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New York Post
Orioles’ James McCann drilled in face by pitch in scary bloody scene
By Bradley Locker,
19 hours ago
It’s every hitter’s worst nightmare come true.
Baltimore Orioles catcher James McCann was drilled by a 95 mph fastball from Blue Jays starter Yariel Rodriguez while batting with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning at Camden Yards on Monday.
McCann immediately grabbed his nose and stayed down for several minutes as blood gushed out and onto his white home jersey.
“That was a scary scene. It just shows you how tough that guy is,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde told reporters. “He was obviously dazed and the blood wasn’t stopping.”
Improbably, the ex-Met walked to first base with a tissue pressed to his nose, somehow staying in the game — the first of a doubleheader.
Baltimore Orioles’ James McCann reacts after being hit by a pitch by Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yariel Rodriguez during the first inning in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday, July 29, 2024, AP
The hit-by-pitch may have given Baltimore another run — padding the team’s lead to 4-0 — and McCann his 15th RBI on the year, but it was undoubtedly his most painful, too.
Shortly after being struck, McCann was erased on the basepaths via a force out by Colton Cowser.
To begin the following half inning, the Herculean starting catcher for Baltimore swapped his jersey and inserted cotton swabs in both nostrils before remaining behind the dish to catch newly acquired starter Zach Eflin in his Orioles debut.
McCann was hit in his first at bat on Monday against Toronto. @AviMiIIer/X A bloodied James McCann valiantly remained in the game. @hessler_ben/X
“I would go to war every single day for James McCann,” Orioles hurler Tyler Wells wrote on X . “But after seeing that, I am convinced that I would absolutely useless to him. That’s the toughest SOB I’ve ever met. And he just proved it right there.”
The 34-year-old McCann has played in 44 games this year, hitting .216 with a 71 OPS+ while serving as Adley Rutschman’s backup over the last two seasons.
“We’re suspecting he has a broken nose,” Hyde said. “All signs right now are he dodged a major bullet.”
McCann spent 2021-22 with the Mets and was an All-Star in 2019 with the White Sox.
The first-inning drama began a three-game series between the two AL East rivals in advance of MLB’s trade deadline, set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET.
The Orioles are looking to rebound after going 5-10 in their last 15 games, including dropping two straight series to the lowly Marlins and Padres this weekend.
Baltimore Orioles’ James McCann drinks water after he was hit by a pitch by Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yariel Rodriguez during the first inning in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday, July 29, 2024 AP McCann came back in on defense to catch Zach Eflin. @BaseballQuotes1/X
Baltimore, which leads the division by one game over the Yankees entering play on Monday, has already added Eflin and reliever Seranthony Dominguez and has been linked to other bullpen arms — including Miami’s Tanner Scott.
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