Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal had a classy gesture after he hit Cleveland Guardians first baseman David Fry in the face with a fastball.
During the Tigers‘ 5-2 loss to the Guardians on Sept. 23, Skubal pitched a 99.1 mph four-seam fastball, which Fry attempted to bunt at. The ball struck Fry in the face, and he immediately went down in pain, while Skubal was visibly shaken up.
Following the game, Skubal reveals he sent a text message to Fry as he wanted to make sure he was all good after the hit by pitch.
“I’ve already reached out to him. I’m sure his phone’s blowing up,” Skubal said. “I just want to make sure he’s all right. He seemed okay coming off the field, and hopefully it stays that way. “I look forward to, hopefully tonight or tomorrow morning, getting a text from him and making sure he’s all good. There are things that are bigger than the game, and his health is more important than a baseball game.”
It was a classy gesture from Skubal to check in on Fry. As Skubal notes, a player’s health is more important than a baseball game, so despite Detroit and Cleveland battling for a playoff spot, he felt he needed to message Fry.
Skubal finished the game, going 6 innings, allowing 1 run, and striking out 8.
Guardians Reveals Injury to Fry
After being struck in the face with the fastball, Fry was rushed to the hospital.
Now, on Sept. 24, the Guardians revealed the injuries to Fry as he suffered some fractures to his face, but it won’t require surgery.
Imaging and clinical examination have confirmed that David Fry sustained multiple, minimally displaced, left-sided facial and nasal fractures,” the statement read. “While the injury will require close monitoring, including serial assessments, David is expected to fully recover over the next 6-8 weeks without the need for surgery. David was discharged from the Cleveland Clinic and is resting comfortably.”
Fry is hitting .171 with 8 home runs and 23 RBIs this season, but will now likely be done for the season.
Tigers in Tight Playoff Battle
Detroit had a 15.5-game lead over the Guardians in July, which has now vanished.
Following Cleveland’s win over the Tigers on Sept. 23, Detroit is now tied with the Guardians. But, Cleveland holds the tiebreaker, and Tigers manager A.J. Hinch knows the team has to be better.
“We have to get to tomorrow and get to a better result,” Hinch said after the Tigers’ seventh loss in a row. “Everybody knows. There’s no hiding behind anything other than showing up ready to play. Right now, we want just good outcomes. A good outcome would be a complete game for us.”
Skubal, meanwhile, says no one is feeling bad for themselves as the focus is on winning the series and the division.
“The team across the way doesn’t feel bad for us,” Skubal said. “There’s no reason we should feel bad for ourselves. We still got an opportunity to come out there and win tomorrow and then win a series. I think that’s what really matters.”
The Tigers play two more games against the Guardians before going on the road for a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
Tigers’ Tarik Skubal Has Classy Gesture After Hitting David Fry in Face