Shortstop Kyle Farmer of the Minnesota Twins took a 92 mph fastball to the face on Wednesday, but he was okay enough to walk off the field without assistance.
The Chicago White Sox’s Lucas Giolito hit the 32-year-old journeyman shortstop just below the brow of his helmet. Giolito saw the impact and immediately averted his eyes, turned away, and held his head out of fear and remorse.
White Sox announcer Steve Stone responded, “Goodness gracious.” ‘Oh no.’
Manager Rocco Baldelli and the Minnesota Twins medical team members quickly attended to Farmer.
Farmer lay face down for a few minutes while the Twins attended to him, then he slowly got to his feet and walked back to the dugout with a towel covering his face, and his head lowered.
The Twins broadcast initially reported that Farmer had suffered a jaw injury from the 92 mph ball from Giolito that had run inside and laid him on the ground. He will need surgery to fix his teeth and lower jaw.
Farmer, acquired from the Reds in the winter, left the game for pinch-runner Willi Castro. He has started seven of the Twins’ last 12 games at second base or shortstop as a replacement for Jorge Polanco and, more recently, Carlos Correa.
In addition to Joey Gallo, Max Kepler, and Alex Kirilloff, Polanco is now one of four starters on the disabled list. Polanco has been sidelined due to left knee soreness.
Correa, the big contract superstar that was the center of much off-season drama, missed Wednesday’s game for the fourth time in a row because of midback spasms. On Thursday, he may be able to return to the starting lineup.
The Giants and the Mets offered Correa huge contracts. Both teams bailed on the deal after Correa failed to pass the team’s health evaluations.
Farmer is an Atlanta native who has signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Minnesota Twins.
Spotrac estimates that he has made over $10 million during his seven-year career.
