During the first game of spring training on Thursday, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller was struck in the head in the third inning after Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch sent a 105.5 mph line drive his way.
Footage shared on social media by the Dodgers Nation fan account captured his hat flying off as the 25-year-old immediately collapsed to the ground, seemingly shocking the crowd at Camelback Ranch-Glendale stadium in Phoenix, Arizona.
After medical staffers arrived, he slowly rose to his feet. According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, they helped him walk off the field to exit the game and undergo safety protocols regarding a potential concussion.
“I think certainly it was a very scary moment,” Roberts told reporters after the game. “From what I’ve gathered, he’s gonna be under concussion protocol. We’ll keep an eye on him tonight. I don’t know what that means as far as going forward. Certainly, it’s somewhat of a setback.”
He added, “I don’t think we’re getting any X-rays right now.”
Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy recalled a trainer asking Miller if he knew where he was immediately after being hit in the head — and Miller reportedly “made a joke about hanging a curveball.”
Roberts also stated that Miller “didn’t express any pain.”
The accident could potentially jeopardize his efforts at a comeback, as Miller had a lackluster 2024 season resulting from a shoulder injury — and finished with an 8.52 ERA, an “earned run average” typically below 3.00 for top MLB pitchers.
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Miller, who was drafted 29th overall by the Dodgers in the 2020 MLB draft, made his major league debut during the 2023 season. Whether his injury Thursday caused serious unseen damage currently remains unclear.
The accident came mere hours after New York Mets player Pete Alonso took a baseball to the face during practice in Florida. However, the first baseman got back on his feet without help and later reportedly returned to the field to finish his training.
Alonso joked about the injury, reportedly saying, “Just another day.”