Mets’ Kevin Pillar given CT scan after taking 95mph fastball to face

The New York Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar appeared to escape serious injury on Monday night after taking a 95 mph fastball to the face during his team’s victory over the Atlanta Braves.

With the bases loaded in the seventh, Pillar was hit square in the face by the fastball from Jacob Webb. The veteran outfielder was knocked to the ground with blood pouring from his nose.

Pillar was quickly helped to his feet with towels covering his face as he was escorted off the field. After the game, the Mets manager, Luis Rojas, said Pillar was taken to the hospital for a CT scan. Pillar then provided an encouraging update on his Twitter account.

“Thanks to everyone that has reached out! Scary moment but I’m doing fine!” he posted. On Tuesday morning, the Mets said Pillar had suffered multiple nasal fractures and will be seen by a facial specialist to decide the next stage of his treatment.

Braves players, including Webb, watched the scene in shock. As members of the Atlanta grounds crew covered the blood left in the batter’s box area, Webb was removed from the game.

“This guy is a warrior,” Rojas said after the game, via News12’s Kevin Maher. “He shows up every day to play hard. You guys saw him, he got up on his feet and he left. There’s no chance I thought he’d be able to do that after I saw the ball hit him in the face. He got up and he left, that’s at least one positive to see.”

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Pillar’s injury actually helped his team to a victory over their NL East rivals as, with the bases loaded, the automatic walk drove in a run. “You never want to see anyone get hit in the face or in the head by a ball, especially coming at that velocity,” said the Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker. “Pillar is a tough guy. It’s just one of those things where you just shake your head and you’re sick to your stomach.”

Walker was injured himself in the game. He pitched only three innings, allowing one hit and no runs, before exiting with tightness in his left side. The injuries to Walker and Pillar came after the Mets added two regulars to the injured list before the game.

The ace starter Jacob deGrom already is on the IL, recovering from right side tightness. New York placed the outfielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Jeff McNeil on the 10-day IL with hamstring injuries.

Conforto and McNeil join an injured list that also includes third baseman JD Davis, outfielder Brandon Nimmo, reliever Seth Lugo and starting pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Noah Syndergaard, as well as a couple of big league backups in the outfielder Albert Almora Jr and infielder Luis Guillorme.