Shortly after the Boston Red Sox lost out on Alex Bregman in free agency, fans looked to find the reunion between the two sides. The Chicago Cubs will be in town for the final series of the season from September 25-27, but the reunion with Bregman will probably look much different than fans expected days ago.
On September 20, while he was standing near the on-deck circle warming up for his next at-bat, Bregman was hit in the face with a foul ball. The ball shot off Michael Busch's bat on a line and hit the third baseman square in the cheek. It happened so fast there was no chance of dodging it. He immediately buried his face in his hands and descended the dugout steps with a trainer.
After the game, Bregman shared a picture of his face (don't click if you're squeamish), featuring a swollen-shut black eye and a bloodied cheek. He posted another picture the following morning and the entire left half of his face was swollen.
The Cubs sent Bregman to the hospital after the injury. According to Chicago manager Craig Counsell said Bregman was hit in the left cheekbone just under his eye and his nose was bleeding after the hit. Jeff Passan on September 21 reported that Bregman has multiple facial fractures and that he will not undergo surgery — although that doesn't exactly mean he doesn't need it. Passan says Bregman hopes to return during the postseason, but he might be too banged up to pull it off.
Alex Bregman not likley to play in Cubs series against Red Sox following unlucky hit by foul ball near the on-deck circle
While there's still no diagnosis, it's hard to forsee Bregman returning from this injury in a timely manner. Not only will he most likely miss his series at Fenway Park, but he could be out for Chicago's playoff run, depending how far it goes.
Bregman got off to a slow start with the Cubs this season but got rolling at the plate in the second half. He batted .241/.336/.359 over 45 games before the All-Star break and .296/.378/.600 through 44 games after the Midsummer Classic. Bregman has hit 17 home runs in the second half, nearly doubling his nine-homer total from the first half.
Besides National League MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong, Bregman has been the Cubs' biggest offensive contributor in the second half. He would've been key to their playoff push and his absence will be rough for the lineup.
The National League Wild Card race is neck-and-neck as Bregman lands out of commission. The Cubs and San Diego Padres are currently tied for the first Wild Card spot with the Philadelphia Phillies trailing one game behind. Bregman won't be able to help his team fight for the best possible standing and they could end up facing a dangerous team in the first round, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers.
Bregman also won't be able to stick it to the Red Sox, the team that traded its franchise third baseman to accommodate him, then didn't beat the best offer for his services in free agency. It's probably better for Boston that he doesn't have the chance to hit at Fenway Park again so soon.
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