Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman left the Sunday night game at Great American Ball Park after a foul ball hit him in the face while he was standing in the on‑deck circle. The incident occurred in the top of the fourth inning when Reds reliever Luis Mey’s inside fastball jammed Michael Busch, causing the ball to ricochet off Busch’s bat and travel toward the backstop.
Officials say the liner struck Bregman approximately 20 feet from home plate, near his left eye. He covered the area instantly, jogged to the dugout, and received a towel from the team trainer to slow the bleeding. Bregman was then escorted down the stairs to the clubhouse for further evaluation.
Immediate substitution
With Bregman unable to continue, the Cubs turned to pinch‑hitter Matt Shaw, who entered the game at second base. Pedro Ramirez shifted over to third base to fill the defensive gap left by Bregman’s departure.
Bregman’s recent performance
Despite the injury, Bregman had contributed offensively earlier in the game, recording an RBI single and drawing a walk in his two plate appearances. Over the past two months, he has been one of the National League’s most productive hitters. Entering August, Bregman was sitting on 11 home runs, a .248 batting average and a .720 OPS. By the time of Sunday’s game, he had increased his totals to 15 homers and 41 RBIs over the last 45 games, while posting a .291 average and a .998 OPS.
Impact on the Cubs
The loss of a key offensive player like Bregman could affect the Cubs’ lineup depth as the season progresses. Managerial staff will monitor his condition closely and determine when he can safely return to the field. In the meantime, the team will rely on depth players such as Shaw and Ramirez to maintain competitiveness in the upcoming series.
Looking ahead
The Cubs will continue their road trip with the next game scheduled in Cincinnati, hoping to rebound from the setback and capitalize on their recent offensive surge. Fans are encouraged to follow official team updates for any changes to the roster or player status.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
