A few hours after taking a 106.6 mph line drive off his forehead, Seth Lugo walked back into the Kansas City Royals clubhouse Thursday morning looking more like someone arriving for work than someone recovering from one of baseball’s scariest moments.
In fact, Lugo’s biggest complaint seemed to be that the injury didn’t leave a more dramatic mark.
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According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, the Royals veteran joked that he was hoping to see some laces imprinted on his forehead or at least a darker bruise than the red welt that developed after Wednesday night’s frightening incident.
“There’s nothing to it,” Lugo said with a grin, via Rogers.
That response probably says as much about the 36-year-old as any medical update could.
When Brandon Nimmo’s line drive came screaming back toward the mound Wednesday night, there was immediate concern throughout Kauffman Stadium. The ball struck Lugo squarely in the forehead at 106.6 mph, sending him to the ground instantly. Rangers players, Royals trainers and Nimmo himself all reacted immediately.
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The images were unsettling. The swelling appeared almost instantly. Yet somehow, Lugo was walking off the field under his own power only moments later.
The encouraging news continued Thursday.
Lugo underwent the necessary testing on Wednesday night and received a clear CT scan. The Royals said he will continue to be monitored for symptoms, but the early results offered significant relief considering the circumstances.
“Didn’t lose consciousness or anything,” said Lugo, via Rogers. “I felt the swelling pretty quick. I feel all right.”
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Even now, Lugo seems more bothered by the aftermath of his fall than the baseball itself. He told reporters that his left elbow remains sore after hitting the ground, while the forehead swelling causes some throbbing when he bends over.
The moment also revealed the relationship Lugo still maintains with Nimmo from their years together with the Mets.
While trainers attended to Lugo on the mound Wednesday, Nimmo remained nearby visibly shaken. Lugo said Thursday that his focus quickly shifted toward reassuring his former teammate.
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“He was shaken up pretty good,” Lugo said, via Rogers. “I was really just trying to calm him down. ‘I’m OK, Nimms.'”
That perspective surfaced again when Lugo described the play as a pitcher’s nightmare while simultaneously acknowledging how fortunate he was. He believes the ball catching him at an angle rather than directly may have prevented a much more serious outcome.
“We’re very fortunate,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro told reporters, via Jaylon Thompson of The Kansas City Star. “No bleeding, no fractures, none of that kind of stuff.”
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For now, the Royals have not determined whether Lugo will make his next scheduled start. Quatraro also noted that the team will continue monitoring him closely in the coming days.
With the positive update on Lugo’s condition on their minds, the Royals will look to take a series win from the Rangers in Thursday’s finale. Michael Wacha gets the ball for Kansas City, while Texas counters with Kumar Rocker.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source ca.sports.yahoo.com ’
