In the annals of Major League Baseball’s peculiar injuries, a recent incident involving Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart might just take the cake for its sheer unorthodoxy.
Bart’s absence from the Pirates’ matchup against the New York Mets on Wednesday due to a head injury initially appears unremarkable. However, the circumstances leading to his injury add a bizarre twist to the tale.
During batting practice earlier in the week, Bart found himself in an unprecedented predicament: struck in the head by a home run ball while fulfilling his duties in the bullpen.
Initially, the team anticipated Bart’s swift return after a brief period of recuperation. However, exercising caution, they opted to sideline him for the game against the Mets.
The Mets capitalized on Bart’s absence, securing a commanding 9-1 victory over the Pirates, marking their 10th win of the season.
Stepping into Bart’s shoes was rookie Henry Davis, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, who assumed catching duties and garnered a 1-2 performance with a strikeout during the game.
Bart himself boasts an impressive pedigree, having been selected as the No. 2 overall pick by the San Francisco Giants in the 2018 MLB Draft. He debuted in the majors with the Giants in 2020, spending four seasons with the team before being traded to the Pirates shortly after the commencement of the current season.
With burgeoning talents like Oneil Cruz and Ke’Bryan Hayes, the Pirates are striving to expedite their rebuilding efforts. Bart, despite his tenure with the Giants falling short of expectations, now finds himself with the opportunity to rejuvenate his career in Pittsburgh.
One can only hope that Bart’s encounter with unforeseen mishaps during bullpen sessions is a one-off occurrence, and that he can steer clear of such peculiar accidents in the future.
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