‘A terrible, terrible accident’: Cubs’ Bregman undergoing CT scans after taking foul ball to face

Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman was taken to the hospital for tests after being struck in the face by a foul ball while standing in front of the on-deck circle during Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.

There was no immediate decision on whether Bregman, who was taken for X-rays and CT scans, would travel with the team back to Chicago after the Cubs’ 9-1 win.

“He got hit in the left cheekbone essentially, under the eye,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “I don’t know anything more than that right now. He was bleeding from his nose a little. There’s some swelling. It’s a terrible, terrible accident. We hope he’s OK.”

In the fourth inning, Michael Busch checked his swing and fouled off a pitch from Reds Luis Mey that struck Bregman, who immediately jogged toward the Cubs’ dugout with his hand covering the left side of his face.

Bregman was escorted by a trainer down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse, with blood visible on his face.

“It just happens so fast,” Busch said. “[Mey] is throwing the ball hard and it comes off hard. Any time it enters the head area, it’s always a scary thing. We try to focus on the game, but it’s tough. Hopefully he’s OK, first and foremost.”

Bregman is batting .262 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs after signing a $175m, five-year free-agent deal in January.

“You just hope your friend is OK,” Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said. “That’s the news that I’m hoping for. But scary stuff. Such a rarity.”

Counsell said he hasn’t thought about how a potential long-term absence for Bregman could affect his postseason roster plans.

“You know, we’ve got to get good results from the hospital,” Counsell said. “He got hit in the face [so] you’re worried just about his general wellbeing first. I want to get a good report first.”