Rangers’ Josh Smith takes pitch to the jaw in opposition to Orioles

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Smith went to the hospital Monday after taking a pitch to the face in a 2-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

The left-hand batter crumpled to the bottom after being hit in his jaw by an 89-mph slider from Orioles reliever Danny Coulumbe within the third inning in Arlington, Texas. Smith lined his face and writhed in ache for a couple of moments within the batter’s field, however walked off the sector below his personal energy.

Yikes, Josh Smith simply took an 89 MPH pitch to the jaw pic.twitter.com/UUVfmjQeN4</ a>

— Ben Palmer (@benjpalmer) April 4, 2023

“He got hit in the face area, in the lower jaw,” Rangers supervisor Bruce Bochy mentioned. “We did take him to the ER. He had some CT tests. They came out clean. So, we got good news there. He’s feeling better as I’m speaking right now. Tomorrow, we’ll just reevaluate him.”

Smith obtained six stitches on the decrease proper aspect of his face, a lower inside his mouth and a few slight swelling, however no fractures.

“I feel pretty good actually. I slept good,” Smith mentioned Tuesday within the Rangers clubhouse. “It’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Really no pain or anything like that.”

Smith mentioned he had cleared concussion protocol, although he anticipated he would proceed to be monitored to ensure there are not any points. He didn’t lose any tooth, however mentioned he would in all probability nonetheless see a dentist.

There had been no speedy plans for Smith to go on the injured checklist. Smith, who began three of the workforce’s first 4 video games in left discipline, mentioned he hoped to be again in lower than per week.