Angels' Ward suffers facial fractures after HBP
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward left Saturday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays after being hit in the face by a pitch from Alek Manoah.
Angels manager Phil Nevin said postgame that Ward was taken to a Toronto hospital for further testing, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.
On Sunday, the Angels placed Ward on the injured list with facial fractures and selected the contract of infielder Kevin Padlo.
Nevin stated Sunday that Ward didn't suffered any damage to his sight but surgery is still a possibility, according to Sam Blum of The Athletic.
With the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, Manoah's 92-mph sinker rode up and struck Ward square in the face, below the ear flap of his batting helmet. Ward, who was bleeding, was quickly tended to by Angels trainers.
Scary moment as Taylor Ward takes an Alek Manoah pitch up high. pic.twitter.com/4BJZ77GCgA
Ward was able to get to his feet and be helped to a medical cart that took him off the field. Andrew Velazquez pinch ran for him at first base and remained in the game at shortstop to start the bottom of the fifth, while Luis Rengifo shifted to left field.
Manoah was visibly shaken after throwing the pitch and was taken out of the game moments after the incident.
"I'll definitely be looking to see how he's doing, and I hope he's back on the field soon," the right-hander told TSN's Scott Mitchell postgame.
Ward, 29, is hitting .253/.335/.421 with 14 homers and 47 RBIs this season.
The Angels have been hit hard by injuries throughout July. They're particularly shorthanded in the outfield, where Mike Trout and Jo Adell are still on the injured list.
The HBP pushed the first run of the game across the plate for either team in Saturday's contest, but Toronto went on to win 6-1.