MIAMI -- Tigers shortstop Javier Báez exited Friday night’s 8-2 loss against the Marlins after fouling a pitch off of his forehead.
Báez went to the ground after the swing, which came on an 0-1 changeup from Sandy Alcantara. A close-up camera angle on Báez showed a large bump forming in the area near his left eyebrow.
He was replaced by Trey Sweeney, who struck out three pitches later. The Tigers revealed postgame that Báez was not in concussion protocol.
“It was scary,” manager A.J. Hinch said after the game. “Going out there I didn’t know where it hit him, it was right above his eyebrow. You could see it starting to swell standing over him.
“And he was conscious, he was talking. He wanted to stand up right away, and we took him out to get it looked at. … It never broke skin, there was no blood or anything like that. Depending where it hit him, there’s a lot of damage it could do there. He’s considered day to day right now. I haven’t seen him postgame, but I certainly will check on him."
Báez has served time in the infield and in center field this season. He’s hitting .256 with 11 homers and 52 RBIs.