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The Mets outfielder needed to get a CT scan after a major injury.

Some people, when attending a baseball game, harbor a secret desire to see batters get hit straight-on with the ball, or “beaned,” to use the common parlance. Compared to its contemporaries like football and soccer, baseball isn’t an especially violent sport, so seeing a little blood once in a while is often something of a spectacle. Of course, even if some part of you hopes to see it happen, when it actually does, it’s not as entertaining as you’d expect.

On Monday night, the New York Mets took on the Atlanta Braves. In the seventh inning, the bases were loaded, and the Mets’ outfielder, Kevin Pillar came up to bat. It was a showdown between Pillar and the Braves’ pitcher, Jacob Webb, but I don’t think either of them expected what happened next: Webb’s 95 mile-per-hour fastball colliding head-on with Pillar’s, er, head. Pillar was sent sprawling by the impact, blood pouring from his nose. He was escorted from the field to receive treatment, blood staining a towel red, while Webb was ejected from the game. On the bright side, due to the impact, the Mets got a free walk, bringing in their runner on third and ultimately winning them the game.

Pillar was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for a CT scan, where it was determined he had suffered several nasty nasal fractures. He’ll be seeing a facial specialist to put a treatment plan together, but overall, he’s more or less okay.

Thanks to everyone that has reached out! Scary moment but I’m doing fine! #RBI #gamewinner 👍🏽👍🏽

— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) May 18, 2021

“This guy is a warrior,” Mets manager Luis Rojas said after the game. “He shows up every day to play hard. You guys saw him, he got up on his feet and he left. There’s no chance I thought he’d be able to do that after I saw the ball hit him in the face. He got up and he left, that’s at least one positive to see.”

“You never want to see anyone get hit in the face or in the head by a ball, especially coming at that velocity,” said the Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker. “Pillar is a tough guy. It’s just one of those things where you just shake your head and you’re sick to your stomach.”