Pitcher Struck In Face by By 103 mph Line Drive

Quad City River Bandits at Kane County Cougars
Wednesday, August 28th, 2002
Phillip B. Elfstrom Stadium, Geneva, Illinios
Matt Vorwald #37 pitching vs. Kris Clute #6

I was pitching for Quad City (A) in the Minnesota Twins org. It was almost the last game of the season, and it was in the 10th inning and I was brought on to close the game. With a runner on, Kris Clute was behind 1-2. I threw a More.. perfect strike on the outside corner, which the blind ump blatantly missed. I showed frustration, so he decided to screw me again on the next pitch, which was a slider belt high over the middle. So now I've thrown this guy 4 strikes. Should be out -- twice. With the count full, I threw a fastball that was clocked on the radar gun at 94 mph right at the knees over the heart of the plate. Clute dropped the bat head on it, and the line drive returned my way at a blazing 103 mph. I had no time to react, and my glove was a tad too slow to cover my face. I took the brunt of the liner directly off my right jaw, shattering it in 3 places. I instantly tasted blood and iron, and had a ringing in my ears. The force had spun my around and knocked me to my knees. After a couple seconds, I stood up holding my mouth and walked off the field. When I got to the clubhouse and saw my face in the mirror, I got pretty furious, and stormed back out to yell at the plate ump. With blood spewing down my jersey, I gave him my opinion of the calls, along with a tirade of profanity. Then I went to the hospital to get my jaw wired shut for 6 weeks. Yum! Shakes. And soup.