Boston Red Sox prospect Blaze Jordan is recovering after being struck in the face by a 97 mph fastball during a minor league game in Maine on Friday night.
Playing third base for Boston’s Double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs, Jordan was at bat against Altoona Curve reliever Eddy Yean with the Sea Dogs trailing 12-8 in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Unfortunately, Yean’s fastball came in high and inside, hitting Jordan directly in the face.
The 21-year-old collapsed in pain as Portland trainers rushed to his aid. Portland went on to lose to Altoona, 12-9.
Jordan later shared the extent of his injuries on social media, posting a picture of his swollen, bloody eye.
“Baseball is rough sometimes,” he wrote. “97 to the face didn’t feel too great, but it’s all part of God’s plan! Be back soon!”
Jordan has been placed on the seven-day injured list while he recovers.
Red Sox fans were inevitably reminded of the late Tony Conigliaro, a Massachusetts native whose career was tragically cut short after being hit in the face by a pitch from the Los Angeles Angels’ Jack Hamilton in 1967.
The Red Sox lost the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals that year, and Conigliaro struggled with eye problems for the rest of his career.
A Mississippi native, Jordan has faced injury challenges this season, having fractured a finger in May.
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