A scary moment shook Major League Baseball on Tuesday night when Cleveland Guardians hitter David Fry was struck in the face by a 99 mph pitch. The incident happened during the sixth inning of the Guardians’ 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.
Fry was trying to bunt when Detroit pitcher Tarik Skubal’s fastball flew straight toward him and hit him around the nose and mouth. The 2024 All-Star immediately collapsed in the batter’s box, holding his bloodied face. The stadium went silent as trainers and manager Stephen Vogt rushed to his side.
Detroit’s Skubal, last year’s AL Cy Young Award winner, was visibly shaken. He immediately threw down his glove and cap and walked around the field while Fry received medical attention. Fans in the stands held their breath as Fry lay in the dirt for several minutes.
Finally, Fry was helped to sit up, giving everyone a small sense of relief when he raised a thumbs-up signal to the crowd. He was then taken off the field on a medical cart and sent to Lutheran Medical Center before being transferred to the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus for further testing and observation. The Guardians announced they will share more updates about his condition on Wednesday morning.
“It was straight to the face,” manager Stephen Vogt said after the game. “Everyone in the dugout, the crowd, the players, we were all shaken. Right now we’re just thinking about David and his family. We’re thankful he’s okay enough to give that signal, but it was a really scary moment.”
Skubal, who had been pitching brilliantly before the incident, admitted it was one of the toughest moments of his career. “Really tough,” he said. “I’ve already reached out to him. I just want to make sure he’s all right. Seeing something like that — there are things way bigger than baseball, and his health is more important than any game.”
Fry’s teammates were also shaken, including Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan. “Definitely really scary,” Kwan said. “But that’s Fry — always putting the team first, even trying to bunt in that situation. He’s tough, he’s selfless, and he’s been such an important part of this team. He even had some humor when he was coming off the field, so we’re hoping we get good news soon.”
After Fry left the game, George Valera came in to replace him at bat. The very next pitches showed how shaken Skubal was. He threw a wild pitch, made a throwing error trying an awkward between-the-legs toss to first base, and was also called for a balk. The Guardians took advantage, scoring three runs in the inning to grab the lead — without even hitting the ball out of the infield.
The victory was Cleveland’s 16th in its last 18 games, a stunning turnaround that has tied them with the Tigers at the top of the AL Central. The Guardians were once trailing by 15½ games back on July 8, and even as recently as August 25, they were still 12½ games behind. But an incredible September run has brought them back into contention.
For the Tigers, the loss continued a brutal stretch, with seven defeats in a row and 10 losses in their last 11 games. Catcher Dillon Dingler admitted the pressure is getting to the team. “It’s not quite panic, but we definitely feel it,” he said. “We’ve got to relax, stay focused, and just play the game the right way.”
Even though Cleveland’s win was huge for the division race, most people’s thoughts were not on the standings after the game. The night belonged to concern for David Fry, a player who has been an important part of the Guardians lineup and locker room. Fans, teammates, and even his opponents are now united in wishing him a quick and safe recovery.
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