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Miami Marlins star slugger and current NL MVP front runner Giancarlo Stanton was hit in the face by a fastball from Milwaukee pitcher Mike Fiers during last night’s Marlins-Brewers game.
Stanton was hit flush in the face, right on the cheek underneath the left eye, and immediately crumpled to the ground in pain, while the crowd moaned in reaction to the noise the ball made as it made contact.
He was bloodied and a stretcher and cart were called in to carry him off the field.
Stanton had to be hospitalized and suffered facial lacerations requiring stitches, multiple facial fractures and dental damage. The Marlins believe he is done for the season.
Fiers was demonstrative and emotional after the hit, expressing regret over a pitch that obviously was not intended to hit Stanton.
However, Fiers did hit Reed Johnson, who stood in for Stanton, with a pitch immediately after, causing the Marlins bench to start yelling at the Brewers’ pitcher. Fiers yelled back, and Marlins players charged out of the dugout towards him, causing a bench clearing melee.
Following the game, Fiers took to Twitter to apologize to Stanton:
Stanton, who had been hitting .287/.395/.554 with 37 home runs and an MLB-leading 105 RBI, will be returning to Miami Friday.
Meanwhile, athletes, teammates, and fellow MLB players took to Twitter to express their well-wishes to the 24-year-old slugger:
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