$A's P Chris Bassitt suffered fractured cheekbone, maxilla$

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Chris Bassitt Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

A's pitcher Chris Bassitt suffered fractured cheekbone, maxilla after taking 100 mph liner off head

By Erin Walsh | Last updated Aug 18, 2021 12:57 PM ET

Oakland A's ace Chris Bassitt suffered a fractured cheekbone and maxilla after taking a 100 mph line drive to the head in Tuesday's 9-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.

News is encouraging on A’s ace Chris Bassitt. After being hit in the face with a liner last night he sustained a fractured cheekbone and maxilla (upper jawbone). Surgery will be in 3-5 days after swelling subsides. All other scans are clean. Most vitally: Vision is 20-20.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 18, 2021

Bassitt took a line drive off the head in the second inning of Tuesday's game in an at-bat against Brian Goodwin. The 32-year-old hit the ground immediately, grabbing his face as medical staff rushed to attend to him. A lot of blood was visible as trainers put a towel on his face.

Prayers for Oakland pitcher Chris Bassitt

This video is not easy to watch. Hope he is OK.

pic.twitter.com/64Knso1pKa
— Frankie Fanta$y (@Frankie_Fantasy) August 18, 2021

It was a scary moment, and many players were shaken up, with some covering their faces and dropping to one knee.

Scariest A's moment in quite some time.
Pulling for Chris Bassitt right now. pic.twitter.com/vqAH5hhz8N
— Brodie Brazil (@BrodieNBCS) August 18, 2021

Bassitt was having a career-best season before suffering the injury. He was named an All-Star for the first time and leads the American League with 12 wins and 151 innings.

The 32-year-old is 12-4 this season with a 3.22 ERA, 1.046 WHIP and 154 strikeouts in 151 innings. He has been with the A's since the 2015 campaign.

With Bassitt sidelined, the A's will be forced to rely on Cole Irvin, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas and James Kaprielian. Mike Fiers is on the 60-day IL with an elbow injury.

Oakland is second in the American League West with a 68-52 record. The club currently owns the AL's second wild-card spot.

Erin Walsh

Erin Walsh is a Boston sports fan through and through. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bridgewater State University and currently is in pursuit of her Master's Degree in Journalism from Northeastern University. Follow her on Twitter @ewalsh90

More must-reads: