Outfielder Rymer Liriano sustained multiple facial fractures Sunday after being hit by a pitch in the Brewers’ Spring Training game against the Dodgers, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes. Liriano was batting in the eighth inning when Matt West’s pitch came up and in and struck him hard on the cheek. He was removed on a stretcher. He will begin the season on the disabled list, and it’s unknown when he’ll return. “It’s serious,” says Brewers manager Craig Counsell. “He got hit in the head.”
The Brewers acquired Liriano in January in a minor trade with the Padres. Liriano, who is out of options, was competing to make the team and possibly earn playing time in center field, where the Brewers have a vacancy. Once a top prospect with the Padres, Liriano batted .292/.383/.460 for Triple-A El Paso last season.
Liriano was not having a great spring and now this. In one of those weird ironies, his injury and likely assignment to the 60 day DL allows the Brewers to avoid having to expose him to waivers (he’s out of options), and frees up a 40 man spot for one of the non-roster guys in camp.
Wish him a speedy and full recovery!
Liriano should be happy he isn’t going to have to be in Milwaukee this season. They’re going to be terrible and lose 95 games, at least.
I’d imagine that Liriano would have rather not got beaned and made the Brewers club out right. He’d be getting a major league salary and the actual chance at playing time to prove himself as a real big leaguer. The Brewers were actually one of the best landing spots for Liriano. He wouldn’t have much of a shot of even that on most major league rosters.
The guy still gets paid an mlb salary on the dl because he has no options.
What a ridiculous comment.
Thanks Matt B.
Southpaw your comment is offensive. I was watching the game and like everyone else who witnessed this accident, I was sickened. This is a dangerous game and the men that play it deserve our respect.
Ohh come on. It was a stupid comment, but offensive? That’s a stretch and a half.
No one ever wants to see someone get injured. But his comment was more geared towards how bad the brewers are going to be and joking that players rather get hit in the face than play out the season on the Brewers. He didn’t wish harm on the guy or say anything actually offensive.
Stupid (your word) or ridiculous comments made in the aftermath of a serious accident in which someone’s health and professional future are at stake are offensive to me. The image of Rymer Liriano writhing in pain at home plate yesterday for over 20 minutes is very troubling to me and, I suspect, others who who saw it. Perhaps “southpaw” didn’t see it or perhaps he just didn’t react the way some here did. In either case, I was offended by the comment and would hope that in the future he responds differently.
It’s the perfect place for him to get an extended look in MIL. Worry about the 95 losses later. Goal is to stick in the majors. I really thought he’d get that CF job before this happened.
Time to ban pitching I guess.
The pitch cannot be within 7.78 inches of a player’s body, otherwise it’s an automatic grand slam regardless of men on base.
Rule 787.4.8.33.4.7
Trade him to my Red Sox. When he gets healthy, he’ll be a future HOFer.
Stop the, “trade him too my sox, or my sox should go get him” on every post
I’m sure he’s just making fun of the guy who does it every other post
Yes, obviously a joke.
Although I do like Liriano and think he has a lot of potential.
I know right, the Red Sox aren’t even the best team, they are just rich guys hitting in a small ballpark
The important thing here is lets hope his recovery is quick and not a long term concern for him.
Time to add face masks to batting helmets to protect batters
This was my initial thought, as well, but I guess my comment never went through. There’s literally no excuse for MLB players not being required to wear a face mask. No other sport has 100 mph fastballs being hurled at a player; granted, hockey and tennis come close, I would say a baseball could do far more damage. Ownership should want it due to the immense investment they make on these guys, and the players should want it to make them safer. The risk is too extreme, they need face masks.
Hockey already has face masks and u rarely ever here of a tennis ball nailing a tennis player in the face
Hockey has face masks now? I’m not talking about visors, I mean NFL-style cages, like catchers have. And I know it’s not a problem in tennis, that was my point. There’s a limit to where it is too much risk, and baseball exceeds that level where tennis does not.
This would’ve never happened to the Red Sox… Also, I heard Pablo Sandoval uses real powdered sugar donuts instead of batting donuts, the sugar is what allows him to be the perennial all-star he is
Don’t know the mph of the pitch that hit him, but I’m tired of these no-name pitchers throwing 100mph just because they can…95-96 with control will get the job done just fine.
Case in point. The video of the Indians minor leaguer throwing 107+ with running momentum…dude, who cares? Risking taking someone’s head off just to get an out is irresponsible.
Matt West, the Dodger pitcher, does not throw 95-96. He probably doesn’t even throw 92 consistently. He is a young pitcher trying to make an impression. He threw a fastball that ran up and in on Liriano. West was clearly shaken by what happened and also, clearly, had no intent to harm or intimidate Liriano. Next to Liriano, everyone on that field felt for Matt West.
This is baseball and, more specifically, this stuff happens more frequently in spring training. Let’s just think positive thoughts for Rymer Liriano.
As a Milwaukee fan, this is disappointing. Here you have a guy who wants to go out and work hard to prove himself, and will likely be sidelined for an indefinite amount of time. Honestly, its probably more disappointing to see all the jokesters above making comments about how bad Milwaukee will be this year etc.
Wishing him a speedy recovery and quick return to the field.
Feel terrible for both Liriano and West. One guy is paying the price physically, the other emotionally.