Ex-Dodgers star Justin Turner was hit in the face with bad luck Monday while playing a spring training game for his new team, the Boston Red Sox.
Turner is in a hospital in Fort Myers, Florida, where he is being treated for soft tissue injuries and being monitored for a concussion, according to the Red Sox.
“Justin is stable, alert and in good spirits given the circumstances,” the Red Sox said in a statement.
Turner’s wife Kourtney tweeted that Turner was resting at home after getting 16 stitches.
Turner faced Detroit Tigers pitcher Matt Manning with two runners, no outs and a 2-1 strike when the incident happened at the end of the first inning.
Video footage shows Turner bleeding from his face all the way to home plate. gymnast went off the field on his own, but was assisted by a member of the Red Sox training staff who held a towel over the veteran player’s face.
Turner spent nine seasons with the Dodgers and became a fan favorite and team leader, helping LA win a World Series title in 2020, the team’s first since 1988.
The Dodgers declined his $16 million option for 2023, then signed J.D. Martinez on December 17 to effectively replace Turner’s right-handed hitter in a largely designated hit role. Turner signed a two-year, $22 million deal with the Red Sox the next day.
“It was scary. I texted him right away when it happened, so I hope he’s okay,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after his team’s game Monday at Camelback Ranch. “I haven’t heard anything since then. But it’s just scary for everyone.”
Source: LA Times