The Washington Nationals’ top prospect, catcher Keibert Ruiz, took a 95 MPH fastball from Pittsburgh Pirates’ righty Kyle Keller to the face in Saturday night’s game, though it looked like it really did catch a lot of ear flap, while definitely catching a good deal of jaw/cheek as well, but a few inches either way could have been devastating.
Ruiz’s manager, Davey Martinez, told reporters after Saturday’s loss that the 23-year-old backstop went for X-rays that came up clean.
“X-rays were negative,” Martinez said. “He’s got a slight headache, which I’m glad that’s all he has, but he said he feels fine, we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.