DeJong goes on IL after 'scary' HBP to face

PITTSBURGH -- Nationals infielder Paul DeJong, who exited Tuesday’s 3-0 win over the Pirates in the sixth inning after being hit in the face by a fastball from Mitch Keller, was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. In a corresponding move, infielder Trey Lipscomb was recalled from Triple-A Rochester.

DeJong fell to the ground when the mislocated 92.7 mph four-seamer struck him and left a gash on his nose and under his left eye.

DeJong stayed overnight at a local hospital for observation. He was released on Wednesday, and he will be driven back to Washington, D.C. while the team continues their road trip.

“Right now, it’s a fractured nose,” manager Dave Martinez said. “But he’s going to go back, I’m sure he’s going to go through some more tests, he’s going to go see a specialist back in D.C. I talked to him yesterday, I talked to him today for a while. He’s upbeat. He’s doing well. The swelling’s gone down a little bit. Hopefully, all he has is a fractured nose and we can move on.”

Said teammate James Wood: “Situations like that are scary. We just hope for the best, really. I didn’t really know what happened. I thought it hit him in the helmet, that’s what it sounded like. But just hearing more about it, it didn’t look pretty, and I just hope everything is as good as possible.”

Keller immediately crouched down on the mound and covered his mouth.

"It's tough,” Keller said. “Hope he's OK. You just gotta battle back and get in there again and do it again."

DeJong was tended to by Martinez and head athletic trainer Paul Lessard, who held a towel up to DeJong’s face to try to limit the bleeding. DeJong was able to walk off the field on his own, with the guidance of Martinez and Lessard.

“When he came in, he got a little lightheaded when he went down the [dugout] steps,” Martinez said. “But he was able to get up on his feet and come to the clubhouse. So that’s definitely encouraging.”

DeJong, 31, has been a veteran presence on the Nationals' infield. A shortstop for most of his nine-year career, DeJong has shifted to playing the hot corner and has done so at a high level.

“Oh gosh,” Martinez said when asked what DeJong means to the Nationals. “The way he’s been playing third base over there has been awesome. Hopefully, it’s a speedy recovery, everything goes well, we’ll get him back as soon as possible.”

Amed Rosario replaced DeJong and also started at third base on Wednesday. The Nationals could tab Rosario or José Tena at third while DeJong recovers.

“We definitely have some options,” said Martinez.