So look. Before you watch this, please know that the headline is not an exaggeration. This is one of the most brutal and scary HBPs you will ever see in your life.
Mets OF Kevin Pillar took a 94-MPH fastball directly to the center of his face yesterday evening and I mean DIRECTLY. No glancing off the shoulder, no kinda hitting the helmet, no "it grazed him" -- nothing. Full power fastball, dead center mug.
And he leaked like a water hose. There is lots of blood. They had to bring some grounds crew out to cover and rake out the blood from the dirt before they could proceed with the game.
The Braves' pitcher, Jacob Webb, who clearly did not intentionally throw at Pillar, looked like this as Pillar was on the ground bleeding from his face:
Webb was so shook that they pulled him from the game. You could tell by the look on his face, he was just absolutely, 100% shook to the core. In shock, almost. Thinking, "Did I just kill this guy? Did I just end his career, the one thing he's worked his entire life for? Will he ever look the same? Will he ever see the same?" The guy was pale and looked like he was about to cry.
OK.
.
.
.
Still wanna see it the clip? Here it is:
If that didn't make you hurl, you can really hear the impact in this video:
MAN. That makes my bones hurt. That makes my hair hurt. That's just so bad.
Now, on to the good news: As utterly grim as that was, Pillar, who is apparently an absolute boss and beast of a man, walked off the field under his own strength and proceeded to tweet this out at 11:30 last night:
😤 😤 😤 😤 😤
According to ESPN, Pillar "suffered multiple nasal fractures" and "will meet with a facial specialist in Atlanta to determine next step."
Sounds like some plastic surgery will be in order. Maybe some other magic to salvage his sinuses and keep airflow optimal.
Man oh man that was a scary HBP.
As bad as that was, it's baseball. And I, Hamilton Porter, sports reporter, am here at Not the Bee to report sports to you fine people.
Let's have some prayers up for Mr. Pillar for a speedy recovery and perhaps that he will consider wearing a C-Flap in the future!!
