ATLANTA (AP) — Whit Merrifield got lucky. He wasn't seriously injured when a 95-mph fastball struck him on the head.
Still, the Atlanta Braves second baseman is livid about the state of pitching in the big leagues, saying it's only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or even killed.
“The way pitchers are throwing now, there's no remorse or regard for throwing up and in,” Merrifield said after Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. “Guys are throwing as hard as they can and they don't care where the ball goes.”
Merrifield was struck behind the right ear with a pitch from Jeff Criswell in the seventh inning of Atlanta's 3-0 victory.