BALTIMORE — Orioles catcher James McCann was hit in the face by a fastball and was treated for a severe nosebleed before remaining in the game Monday against Toronto.
The throw was made by Blue Jays rookie Yariel Rodriguez, who struggled to control his ball before unleashing a pitch in the first inning with the bases loaded that hit McCann square in the face.
Baltimore’s backup wide receiver immediately went to the ground, bleeding profusely as the team’s head athletic trainer, Brian Ebel, began treating him.
McCann eventually made it to first base, but he was still bleeding before manager Brandon Hyde sent him to the dugout.
At that point, Rodriguez was removed from the game by Toronto manager John Schneider. During the ensuing delay to allow reliever Brandon Eisert to warm up, McCann continued to receive treatment in the Baltimore dugout.
By the time play was ready to resume, McCann had stopped bleeding and returned to the field, wearing a new jersey and taking his place as the runner on first base.
“I would go to war any day for James McCann. But after watching this, I’m convinced I would be of absolutely no use to him,” injured Orioles pitcher Tyler Wells wrote in a social media post. “He’s the toughest son of a bitch I’ve ever met.”
McCann was credited with an RBI to give Baltimore a 4-0 lead in the first game of a doubleheader.
He received a standing ovation when he came to bat with two outs in the third.
