Boston Red Sox prospect Blaze Jordan is recovering after taking a 97mph fastball off his face during a minor league game in Maine on Friday night.
Playing third base for Boston’s Double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs, Jordan stepped to the plate against Altoona Curve reliever Eddy Yean trailing 12-8 in the bottom of the ninth.
Unfortunately, Yean went up and in with a fastball, hitting Jordan directly in the face.
The 21-year-old went down in obvious pain before Portland trainers could rush onto the field to inspect his injuries. Portland would go on to lose to Altoona, 12-9.
Jordan showed off the damage on social media afterwards by sharing a pic of his bloody, swollen eye.
Boston Red Sox prospect Blaze Jordan is recovering after taking a 97mph fastball off his
Unfortunately, Yean went up and in with a fastball, hitting Jordan directly in the face
Tony Conigliaro and his father leave Sancta Maria Hospital in Cambridge in 1967
‘Baseball is rough sometimes,’ he wrote. ’97 to the face didn’t feel too great, but all part of Gods (sic) plan! Be back soon!’
Jordan has been placed on the seven-day injured list while he recovers.
Naturally, Red Sox fans were reminded of the late Tony Conigliaro, a Massachusetts native whose career was cut short after he was hit in the fast with a pitch from the Los Angeles Angels’ Jack Hamilton in 1967.
The Red Sox would go on to lose the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals that season, while Conigliaro battled eye problems for the remainder of his career.
A Mississippi native, Jordan has struggled with injuries this season after fracturing a finger in May.
The former third-round pick has been up and down prospect rankings over his brief professional career. He impressed at High-A Salem in 2023 by hitting .324 with a robust .533 slugging percentage, but has struggled since being brought up to Portland late last season.
He did win Eastern League Player of the Week honors in April for batting .444 between April 22 and April 28.
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