Los Angeles Angels left fielder Taylor Ward left Saturday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays and was later taken to a hospital after he was hit in the face by a sinker from right-hander Alek Manoah.
In the fifth inning, the 92-mph pitch appeared to hit Ward under the bill of his helmet and on the side of his nose as he was late to duck out of the way. Ward went to the ground and appeared to be bleeding profusely from his nose.
Ward was tended to by Angels medical personnel and left the field on a motorized cart while holding a towel to his face.
Angels manager Phil Nevin told reporters after the 6-1 loss that Ward was transported to a Toronto hospital for further tests, and Manoah offered his public support in calling the incident “probably the worst feeling ever.”
With the bases loaded, Ward earned an RBI on the play, bringing home the first run of the game. He was replaced by pinch runner Andrew Velazquez, who remained in the game to play shortstop with Luis Rengifo moving to left field.
Manoah also left the game, replaced by left-hander Genesis Cabrera.
Manoah led the American League in hit batters in each of the past two seasons, recording 15 last season and 16 in 2021. He has plunked eight this season, including two on Saturday. He also hit Shohei Ohtani.
Ward, 29, is batting .253 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs in 97 games this season. In six seasons, all with the Angels, he is a career .255 hitter with 52 home runs and 167 RBIs in 391 games.
–Field Level Media
