Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman suffered multiple facial fractures after a frightening foul ball struck him directly in the face during the Cubs’ 9-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
The accident happened while Bregman was waiting several feet in front of the on-deck circle as teammate Michael Busch stood at the plate. Busch appeared to check his swing, but he still deflected the baseball off the right side of the batter’s box.
The ball shot toward Bregman and struck him around his left eye. Video of the incident showed Bregman immediately dropping his bat and stumbling backward from the impact. Remarkably, he stayed on his feet. Holding his face, the 32-year-old headed toward the Cubs dugout before stopping as trainers rushed over to examine him.
Bregman Rushed to Hospital After Scary Impact
It quickly became apparent that this was more than a routine bruise.
Bregman was helped down the dugout steps and taken into the clubhouse for further evaluation. He was later transported to a Cincinnati-area hospital, where doctors performed X-rays and a CT scan.
After the game, Bregman gave fans their first look at the damage. “Thanks for all the messages y’all,” he wrote on Instagram alongside a photo showing the aftermath. “I’ll be back.”
His left eye was badly bruised and swollen shut, while his bloody nostril had been packed with a specialized cotton nasal plug commonly used to control bleeding.
Because of the medical testing in Cincinnati, Bregman did not immediately make the trip back to Chicago with the rest of the Cubs. When he eventually returned home, he posted another update. “Back in Chicago,” he wrote.
The second photograph showed that the swelling around his eye had increased. The nasal packing had been removed, although his eye remained closed and dried blood was visible on his cheek.
Multiple Fractures, but No Surgery Expected say Cubs
There was some encouraging news Monday.
ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan reported that Bregman had suffered multiple facial fractures but would not require surgery. According to Passan, Bregman hopes to return in time for the playoffs.
That possibility would be significant for Chicago, given how Bregman has been hitting recently.
The veteran third baseman joined the Cubs as a free agent on a five-year, $175 million contract after spending the 2025 season with the Boston Red Sox. Before that, Bregman built his reputation during a lengthy career with the Houston Astros.
Bregman Had Been Surging at the Plate
His first half with Chicago was difficult. Bregman posted a .696 OPS before turning things around dramatically. Over his most recent 59 games, that figure climbed to .978.
For the season, Bregman has hit 26 home runs while batting .262 with a .352 on-base percentage.
Now his immediate concern is recovering from an injury that occurred in an instant, several feet away from the action at home plate. Despite the fractures, severe swelling, and hospital visit, Bregman’s first public message made his intentions unmistakable. “I’ll be back.”
