VIDEO: Matt Chapman Leaves Game After Taking Fastball to the Head in Athletics-Royals
By Adam Weinrib
Viewers received a frightening reminder in Wednesday night's A's-Royals game about exactly how close 60 feet, six inches really is. Oakland's superstar third baseman Matt Chapman was struck on the cheek by a pitch during the team's 6-4 loss on Thursday night, and the current owners of a Wild Card spot collectively held their breath.
Scary, scary, scary stuff. pic.twitter.com/TwWokX6D7S
— Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) August 29, 2019
However, against all odds, Chapman checked out OK immediately in the aftermath; he avoided the dreaded concussion protocol in the postgame scrum, damn near shrugging off 90.7 mph of baseball directly off his face.
Good news.
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 29, 2019
After taking a 90.7 mph ball to the head, Matt Chapman avoided the concussion protocol after the game.https://t.co/NwfU8jz5gZ pic.twitter.com/lw8yIbRr1m
The A's will need a full-bore Chapman for the final blitz of their season, just two games ahead of the spiraling Tampa Bay Rays for that coveted spot, and fending off the Boston Red Sox as well (six back).
Oakland heads to Yankee Stadium on Friday to take on a team they recently pasted at home; surely, the Bombers would like them to give Chapman a day or two, just for fun.