Baltimore Orioles catcher James McCann may have had the most impressive hitting performance of his career (1-for-3) in Monday’s 11-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
In the first inning, McCann was hit in the face by a 95 mph fastball from Yariel Rodriguez. Everyone watching the game feared the 11-year veteran was in serious injury as he lay face down on the ground while trainers attended to him. Blood could be seen pouring from his nose as he tried to get up.
Amazingly, McCann did not leave the game even though the nosebleed continued and stained his jersey, requiring him to plug his nostrils with gauze. Commentators and fans in the stands rightly assumed McCann would leave the game from that point on. Walking to first base and tagging it was no doubt a show of defiance or perhaps a formality of the rules.
But no. McCann returned to the clubhouse to change into a clean jersey and insisted on staying in the game. Presumably, trainers checked him over for further injuries or concussion symptoms. Yet he continued to play the most grueling position in baseball.
That ended a miserable day for Rodriguez (well, probably not as painful as McCann’s). The rookie walked the first three batters he faced to load the bases and allowed two runs on a single and a groundout. Two more batters reached base on catcher’s interference and a walk before Rodriguez hit McCann.
Twenty-three of Rodriguez’s 43 pitches missed the strike zone. He lasted 2/3 of an inning, allowing four runs (three earned) on one hit and four walks. In 10 starts, the 27-year-old has a 4.31 ERA with 43 strikeouts, 23 walks and 31 hits allowed in 39 2/3 innings.
Yariel Rodriguez hasn’t been in control. Four walks to start the game and a single and he completely misses a fastball that sinks at 95 miles per hour into James McCann’s nose. A lot of time out, a lot of blood but he’s up at home with Brian Ebel tending to him.
— Melanie Newman (@MelanieLynneN) July 29, 2024
McCann, by the way, was hit by a pitch and received an RBI, driving in Ryan Mountcastle to give Baltimore a 4-0 lead. He then singled in the fifth inning and scored on Anthony Santander’s home run.
After the game, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde called the incident “a scary scene” that showed how tough McCann is. However, he was heavily criticized for not pulling McCann, even though evidence indicated he was not seriously injured.
James McCann is suspected of having a broken nose, according to Brandon Hyde.
The captain and the @PNCBank Digital Desk analyses the receiver’s brave performance. image.twitter.com/GaYi68NZjR
— Orioles on MASN (@masnOrioles) July 29, 2024
“It’s incredibly, incredibly tough,” Hyde said. “After that, he’ll play eight more innings. He has no head trauma or eye trauma or any injuries. We suspect a broken nose. He’s going to have a CT scan tomorrow. All indications are that we’ve dodged a major bullet.”
Newly acquired pitcher Zach Eflin from the Tampa Bay Rays got the win despite allowing 10 hits and three runs with seven strikeouts in six innings.
Monday afternoon’s game was the first of a doubleheader. McCann was not in the lineup for the second game, as Adley Rutschman was behind the plate as a catcher.