May 8: The Royals today placed Yarbrough on the 15-day injured list, listing his ailment as head fractures. The severity of his injuries is still not publicly known, nor has the club provided an expected recovery timeline. Right-hander Jose Cuas was recalled in a corresponding move.
May 7: Royals left-hander Ryan Yarbrough was struck in the face by a Ryan Noda line drive, naturally resulting in Yarbrough’s removal from the game. In the sixth inning of Kansas City’s 5-1 victory over Oakland, Yarbrough’s pitch was driven back to the mound with a 106.2 mph exit velocity off of Noda’s bat, knocking Yarbrough immediately to the ground. Fortunately, Yarbrough was able to leave the mound on his own feet, albeit with some assistance from team trainers.
Post-game, Royals manager Matt Quatraro told MLB.com’s Anne Rogers that Yarbrough “was talking and aware of what was going on” when team personnel quickly visited the mound in the wake of the injury. Quatraro said Yarbrough would get further testing done at a local hospital.
More will be known when Yarbrough’s testing is complete, but it tentatively seems as though the southpaw has thankfully avoided any serious damage from a very scary moment. It seems possible that the Royals might put Yarbrough on the seven-day concussion-related injured list for precautionary reasons, just to give him more time to fully recover.
Today’s incident spoils what had been a positive day on the mound, as Yarbrough earned his first win of the season after limiting the Athletics to one run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings. Yarbrough still has a 6.15 ERA over 26 1/3 innings, and today’s game marked his third start after beginning the year in Kansas City’s bullpen. The swingman moved into the rotation once Kris Bubic was lost for the season due to Tommy John surgery, but the Royals will have to look for another fill-in starter if Yarbrough does indeed have to miss any time.
Hope he’s doing OK and has a full recovery. Also hope Noda is doing ok too from a mental standpoint.
Perfectly said. Prayers for all around. With that being said, is “head fracture” a technical term?
I didn’t see this misshap, but I was watching live TV when Kevin Pillar was hit in the face by a 94 mph fastball by Braves Jacob Webb. I’ve watched BB for over 60 years, that was the worst. Now he’s a Braves player, lots of courage to come back from that.
I hope Yarbrough bounces back, takes a lot of courage. Good luck.
I watched when Matt Clement got one back at his head in 2005. That was scary as hell. He was never the same afterwards.
@miltpapps I’ll never forget that. Not only was he never the same; he took an absolute nosedive. I believe he was an all star that year or the year before and was a big addition to the Sox. I was under the belief that he was gonna have a nice run there for a long time. But after that day, pretty sure he was out of the game within a year.
I watched the game/him get hit today. It looked pretty bad. He was immediately bleeding and as he was talking off, it looked like the left side of his face was already starting to turn black/blue. Best thing is that he was able to walk off the field (with some help).
I was watching the game when an Oakland pitcher got hit flush in the face in a game at the White Sox. I think the pitcher was Chris Bassitt. It broke bones on the right side of his face, including his eye socket. Fortunately his vision wasn’t impaired
I was at the game in Mliwaukee when Mike Fiers hit Mike Stanton in the face with a fastball. Mike Stanton died that day and was reincarnated at Giancarlo the following season.
And that lazy lazarus needs tto resurrect himself again.
I didn’t see that one but I do remember when G. Stanton got drilled in the face with the Marlins. It looked really bad and he missed the rest of the season and he made a full recovery. Hoping the same for Ryan Yarbrough.
Hope for the best for the young man. I have seen too many of these, most turned out for the best but sometimes there is some serious injury.
I Hope he is back on the hill soon, best wishes.
Pitchers should wear face/head protective gear.
At least make it optional.
Bubble wrap should also be optional.
Unless it’s Michael Buble.
He doesn’t rap.
Alex Torres agrees with you.
Props to Alex Torres. Was brave enough to wear the padded hat and stand out. Respect respect, whichever way things go.
I don’t think respect applies here. He was trying to take care of himself. Probably wasn’t worried what anyone thought.
Hate it when these things happen. It’s all part of the game but still, just horrible to see. I hope everything goes well and he gets the speediest recovery imaginable. Right now, I’m a Ryan Yarbrough fan over here.
They should give pitchers a glove to be able to catch a ball hit back at them. Oh. Yeah.
Are you vying for dumbest comment of the day?
No, snowflake.
Well, you won it anyway.
And then you doubled down with the nonsensical “snowflake” comment.
Thanks “they.”
Looks like somebody never pitched. Fielding come backers is hard to impossible sometimes, even in slow pitch softball or while pitching BP to kids. Can’t imagine what it’s like at 100+ mph and out of position because of the pitching motion. Geez.
Congrats baseballteam on winning stupid comment of the day….
I have a feeling this isn’t his only day winning it. Nor his only forum.
Has to do it online because he doesn’t get enough time between the dicks in his mouth to say it in public.
Hope yarbs heals well, he even still assisted in the out. Seeing it in the context of the game after a great caught stealing was weird. Knew it was coming (watched later), the mood jumped. Glad KC got the win, he wanted that W. Kinda reminds me of Jason vargas
Eh head fractures? No biggie
I just had one yesterday. He’ll be fine with some chicken soup and a nap.
“Head fracture,” presumably a fractured skull. That sounds as scary as it looked. Wishing Yarbrough a full recovery and return to the mound when he’s ready.
Yikes my worst fear
Rest up and heal up, RY!
Great… Manfred will have a screen put up around the pitcher to protect him. If the batted ball hits the screen it’s an automatic out.
Heck, with all the injuries to pitchers, just put a pitching machine out there and a fielder next to it to run it.
Take things to extreme much?
Maybe pitchers should be issued gloves as protection.