Los Angeles Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of the Seattle Mariners’ Kyle Seager on Sunday and was sent to the hospital.
He underwent surgery after being diagnosed with a “small skull fracture and hematoma,” per Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times. It is uncertain when he will return to action.
Continue for updates.
Shoemaker Released from Hospital
Tuesday, Sept. 6
Angels general manager Billy Eppler confirmed Shoemaker is at a Seattle hotel and might return to Los Angeles on Wednesday, according to Moura.
Shoemaker Undergoes Surgery
Monday, Sept. 5
Eppler told reporters Shoemaker had surgery Sunday night to stop the bleeding. Eppler added Shoemaker is “recovering well.”
Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reported, “Shoemaker is expected to make a full recovery for next season.”
Shoemaker Walks off Under Own Power After Scary Incident
Sunday, Sept. 4
Moura noted the line drive came off the bat at 105 mph. The crowd in Seattle gave Shoemaker a standing ovation as team doctors helped him off the field.
Seager Comments on Shoemaker’s Injury
Sunday, Sept. 4
“That was terrifying,” said Seager, per Shannon Drayer of MyNorthwest.com. “The scariest thing I have seen on a baseball field. That was bigger than [baseball], that was real.”
Shoemaker Has Been Bright Spot for Disappointing Angels
Entering play Sunday, Shoemaker had 26 starts on the season for the Angels. He sported a 3.91 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 141 strikeouts in 158.2 innings, and the strikeouts and innings pitched were both already career-high totals.
He was also formidable in 2014 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 27 appearances (20 starts) but struggled some last year with a 4.46 ERA in 25 games.
This is a lost season for the fourth-place Angels, who were 21.5 games behind the Texas Rangers entering Sunday. He wouldn’t be rushing back to a pennant race, and teams can expand their rosters to 40 players in September to help account for injuries.
Los Angeles still has pieces in its starting rotation, including Jered Weaver, Tyler Skaggs and Ricky Nolasco, who can shoulder more of the load and attempt to save the bullpen innings while Shoemaker is out.
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