The Cubs had everything moving in the right direction Sunday in Cincinnati until a foul ball changed the tone in an instant.
Alex Bregman was standing in the on-deck circle during the Cubs’ series finale against the Reds when he took a foul ball off the face and was immediately taken into the visitor’s clubhouse. He was later transported to a hospital in Cincinnati for testing.
The ball struck Bregman on his left cheek bone, leaving him with a cut and a bloody nose. Counsell said Bregman’s cheek is pretty swollen and that the Cubs are hoping for the best.
Busch was at the plate with two outs in the top of the fourth and Chicago already ahead 5-0 when he fouled a ball toward Bregman. It hit the Cubs’ third baseman in the face, and Matt Shaw came in to replace him.
Bregman has been one of the Cubs’ most important players in the second half, trailing only Pete Crow-Armstrong in that regard, and his absence would be a major blow with the playoffs just over a week away. That’s the immediate concern for Chicago: whether this turns into a short-term scare or something far more damaging for a lineup that has leaned on him heavily.
Before the injury, Bregman had already gotten Chicago’s scoring going by driving in his 89th run of the season. His second half has been a clear turnaround after a rough first half, and he has settled in as a central piece of Craig Counsell’s offense.
The Cubs have dealt with injuries all year, especially on the pitching side, and while they’ve mostly avoided major damage among position players, they haven’t escaped unscathed. They also just got Dansby Swanson back from a month-long IL stint, giving the infield a boost at the perfect time. Now the team is waiting for word on Bregman and hoping the news is better than the scene Sunday suggested.
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