It could have been worse.
Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt suffered a fractured right cheekbone when he was struck by White Sox outfielder Brian Goodwin’s line drive in Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field, but there was a collective sigh of relief around baseball when he was released from Rush University Medical Center later that night.
Bassitt will require surgery but his vision is normal and a CT scan revealed no further injury. The blood that flowed after the 100-mph liner struck him near the eye, adding worry and tension to a scary scene with trainers and emergency medical personnel rushing to his aid at the pitcher’s mound resulted from two facial cuts for which Bassitt needed stitches.
“We are grateful to the White Sox, their medical staff and the doctors and nurses at Rush for their excellent care,” the A’s said in a statement.
Bassitt, an All-Star, Cy Young contender and the A’s ace, is 12-4 with a 3.22 ERA.
“That’s a tremendous relief,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “It could be worse and you’re very thankful.”
Sox reliever Liam Hendriks, who played with Bassitt on the Athletics, said his wife Kristi was sitting with Bassitt’s wife Jess during the game and guided her through the ballpark so she could ride with her husband in the ambulance.
“Thoughts and prayers,” Hendriks said. “I was texting him this morning, just his normal personality, he was joking around. We’re just thankful there’s no lingering issues or anything like that going on.”
“From the bottom of my heart I’d like to thank the White Sox and Athletics staff, front offices and owners,” Bassitt said on Twitter Wednesday. “The support my family and I have received has been overwhelming.”
Bassitt also thanked Rush Hospital and its staff.
“God is good. Can’t wait to get back!” he Tweeted.
No tippin’ Hendriks
Hendriks said he was tipping pitches against the Yankees when he gave up three homers in two games Thursday and Sunday. He wasn’t when he struck out the side against the A’s Monday.
“[Sox coaches] realized I was signaling, tipping what pitch I was throwing and we made that adjustment last and the last outing there was good,” Hendriks said. “We rectified that for the most part. It’s still going to be a work in progress, but now it’s a matter of getting into that second nature habit of making sure I don’t do the same thing over and over again. Making sure everything looks exactly the same coming out of the hand.”
Hendriks said his wife told him after the Yankees game Sunday that he was tipping.
“Turns out she was right, which [ticks] me off to no end,” Hendriks said. “She’s always right.”
Burdi claimed by Orioles
Right-hander Zack Burdi, designated for assignment Monday to make room on the 40-man roster for right-hander Mike Wright, was claimed off waivers by the Orioles. A Downers Grove South graduate drafted out of Louisville by the Sox in the first round as a potential closer in 2016, Burdi was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
Cactus League schedule
The 2022 Cactus League schedule opens Feb. 26 against the A’s and features two games against the Cubs, plus exhibitions against the Cubs at Sloan March 28 and 29. Opening Day is March 31 against the Twins at Guaranteed Rate Field.
