Charlie Blackmon, the Colorado Rockies designated hitter, departed Friday night’s game in San Diego with a bruised left eye after being hit on the left wrist and face by an errant throw from Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts.
Blackmon was running to first base on a grounder when the ball struck his arm and then his eye. He removed his helmet and gripped his face as he collapsed to the ground in agony.
Medical personnel responded to him for several minutes while his eye swelled. He finally left the field and was replaced by Hunter Goodman.
“It’s better,” Blackmon stated later. I feel better. It felt like my eye had exploded.
To be honest, I think I got lucky. It could have struck me with more power. I don’t think it affected me so hard.”
Manager Bud Black stated, “I don’t want to say he went the distance with Floyd Patterson, but he was hit in the eye.” He was timed. It began swelling instantly while we were on the field, but after the game, it appeared that the swelling had decreased from where it had been previously.
“He is fine.” He’s one of the toughest individuals I’ve ever known. He’ll probably want to play tomorrow. But we’ll see how it goes. He was hitting.255, seven home runs.
