A video shared on Twitter shows Baltimore Orioles catcher James McCann getting hit in the nose by a fastball on Monday.
McCann was hit in the face by a 95 mph fastball thrown by Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yariel Rodriguez in the bottom of the first inning on Monday. according to According to the New York Post, the 34-year-old catcher came to bat with the bases loaded but was hit.
The video shows Rodriguez throwing the ball, which curves and hurtles into McCann's face, knocking his helmet off and causing him to instantly fall to the ground as a distressed “oh” can be heard from the crowd.
The camera then pans to McCann, face down on the ground with his hands covering his face. He lifts his head and blood is seen streaming from his nose onto the field. Orioles staff members are seen rushing to his aid, wiping his nose with tissues.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JULY 29: Baltimore Orioles player James McCann (number 27) falls to the ground after being hit by a pitch during the first inning of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 29, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
The former New York Mets star then walked to first base with a tissue holding his bloodied nose, according to the NYP. McCann's injury gave the team a 4-0 lead going into the top of the first inning. (RELATED: Orioles player Adley Rutchman hits face on ground and is covered in blood).
When McCann returned for the next innings, he changed his blood-stained white jersey into a different one. according to MLB: The catcher had both nose swabs and stayed behind the plate to catch the ball. pitcher Zach Eflin's Orioles debut.
#Orioles James McCann's jersey was quickly replaced with a new white jersey. pic.twitter.com/qvbFN5heqf
— Avi Miller 🟦 (@AviMiIIer) July 29, 2024
The catcher has had numerous close calls during his at-bats, according to MLB, which added that McCann came close to colliding with balls in his face on a couple of occasions last year but used his bat to avoid the collisions.
This is the second incident in July in which a Baltimore batter has been hit at the team's stadium. According to MLB, outfielder Heston Kierstad was hit in the head during a game against the New York Yankees on July 12. Kierstad was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list after the incident.
