An accident disrupted Washington Nationals relief pitcher Hunter Strickland's pregame ritual Tuesday afternoon.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez disclosed to Jesse Dougherty of the Washington Post that Strickland was hit by a bar in the weight room and "could have injured the right side of his face." The 30-year-old right-hander was examined at a nearby hospital but returned to PNC Park for X-rays.
Dougherty noted that the right side of Strickland's face was "pretty red and he had a stripped Band-Aid on his nose."
Soon after, Strickland was playing catch with bullpen catcher Nilson Robledo ahead of the Nationals' game against the Pittsburgh Pirates beginning at 7:05 p.