Whit Merrifield was fortunate not to be seriously hurt when a 95-mph fastball hit him in the head.
However, the Atlanta Braves second baseman is furious about the current state of pitching in Major League Baseball, expressing concern that it’s only a matter of time before someone gets 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 hit behind the right ear by a pitch from Jeff Criswell during the seventh inning of Atlanta’s 3-0 win.
Luckily, the ball seemed to hit Merrifield’s helmet slightly, but he still had to leave the game. He wasn’t in the lineup on Wednesday but expects to be back in a day or two after passing a concussion test and getting a clean result from a precautionary CT scan.
“I just took 95 right off the head,” he said. “I’m very lucky that it got me in a good spot.”
In another game, Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper had to leave a game in Toronto after being hit on his left elbow by a pitch. Harper winced in pain and grabbed his elbow after being struck by a 92 mph fastball from right-hander Bowden Francis in the first inning on Wednesday.
Merrifield, who is part of MLB’s competition committee, said that pitchers need to face consequences for hitting batters. He planned to address the issue in a conference call.
“Without being over dramatic, that was my life on the line out there,” Merrifield said. “I’m sick of it. It’s happening way too much.”
The Braves have already had two players injured this season from being hit by pitches, and several others have had close calls.
