Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry took a 99mph fastball off his face in a horrific scene during Tuesday’s 5-2 win over the visiting Detroit Tigers.
Fry had squared to bunt against one of the game’s hardest throwers in Detroit ace Tarik Skubal.
Unfortunately for Fry, Skubal’s heater ran up and in, slamming into the Guardians slugger’s nose and mouth before deflecting off his bat and onto the diamond below.
The 29-year-old Texan collapsed at the plate while clutching his face in obvious pain, but the bigger reaction may have been Skubal’s. The reigning American League Cy Young winner immediately covered his own face upon seeing Fry’s before removing his hat and turning away in horror.
‘We just went fever pitch from eerie silence,’ one of the Guardians announcers said. ‘And unfortunately for Skubal, he had a front-row seat.’
Skubal continued to pace around the mound as Fry was tended to by Cleveland’s medical staff.
Unfortunately for Fry, Skubal’s heater ran up and in, slamming into the Guardians slugger’s nose and mouth before deflecting off his bat and onto the diamond below
Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, left, attends to David Fry after Fry was hit in the face by a pitch in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s win over the Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Guardians’ David Fry is taken off the field after being hit in the face with a pitch
Clearly still rattled, Skubal followed with a wild pitch and a balk as the Guardians took a 3-2 lead.
The good news is that Fry remained conscious as he was taken off the field in a cart.
He’d soon go to Cleveland’s Lutheran Medical Center for testing before being transferred to Cleveland Clinic Main Campus for observation, according to MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins.
The all-important win moves Cleveland into a tie with Detroit for first place in the American League Central — a remarkable feat for the Guardians, considering they trailed by 15.5 games on July 8 and 12.5 games as recently as August 25.
Fry has battled injuries and inconsistency in 2025 after earning his first All-Star nod in 2024.
The two rivals will be back at it tomorrow with Tanner Bibee on the mound for Cleveland and Jack Flaherty pitching for Detroit.
