JUPITER, Fla. — His manager’s alarm was assuaged quickly with a text message from Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado almost immediately after he removed his batting glove to determine the damage a pitch did his right hand.
In the fifth inning of Team USA’s romp against Cuba on Sunday night, a fastball struck Arenado on the back of his right hand.
He winced.
And watching from Jupiter, so did Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol.
“He’s good,” Marmol said. “Actually was able to text back and forth. Literally felt like seconds after he got hit. He responded pretty quickly.