NEW YORK — Yankees rookie starter Bryan Mitchell was injured on Monday night’s game when ex-Yankees shortstop, presently playing for the Twins, ripped a line drive that hit pitcher Bryan Mitchell in the face. Mitchell was bloodied and he fractured his nose and forced him out of the game. He was taken to a nearby hospital New York Presbyterian Hospital. He was diagnosed with a small nasal fracture. Team doctors would monitor him for concussion symptoms, but he was released from the hospital and returned to Yankee Stadium as his club beat the Twins 8-7 in 10 innings.
Reliever Caleb Cotham said that he was able to talk to Mitchell and said he was feeling fine. Cotham and left fielder Brett Gardner noted that they think the ball tipped the bill of Mitchell’s cap before striking him. Catcher Brian McCann was one of the first to rush to the pitcher’s side.
Mitchell, 24, was making his 3rd career big league start after the coaching staff decided on Sunday to give the rest of the rotation an extra day of rest. Entering the night, the right-hander was 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings this season. Mitchell suffered an injury in a minor league weight room in late July, when he fell and bumped his head.
Nunez said, "I was very scared." "I don't even know what I think. As soon as I saw him on the mound bleeding, I was so scared, you know. I was very sad for him."
