Justin Turner was left with blood streaming from his face on Monday after being struck in the face by a fastball at JetBlue Park.
During the first inning of a spring training match between Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, Turner was struck in the face by a Matt Manning pitch, and immediately went down. Blood was seen pouring from his face, and the veteran later left in an ambulance and headed to a nearby hospital.
According to the Red Sox, early indications are that Turner has dodged a major head injury and is receiving treatment for soft tissue injuries. Turner is in a stable condition, and is also being assessed for a concussion.
Following the scary injury on Monday, the Red Sox released a statement to provide concerned fans with an update on the 38-year-old. The statement read: "Justin Turner was taken to a local hospital after being hit in the face by a pitch.
"He is receiving treatment for soft tissue injuries and is being monitored for a concussion. He will undergo further testing, and we’ll update as we have more information. Justin is stable, alert and in good spirits given the circumstances."
Turner only joined the Red Sox in January, after declining the option of an extra year at the Los Angeles Dodgers. Turner then signed a one-year deal with the Red Sox, with the option for a further year in 2024.
The veteran MLB star started on Monday before his day unfortunately came to an abrupt end, and is expected to be a key figure on and off the field for the Red Sox next season. The two-time All-Star brings vast experience to the side, and it was only back in 2020 that he won the World Series with the Dodgers.
The Red Sox still cruised to victory without Turner out on the field, thrashing the Tigers 7-1 with four runs coming in the first inning. The Red Sox still have 22 spring training contests left before the start of the 2023 regular season.
They begin their regular-season on March 30 against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park, and will be confident after a stunning run in the off-season. They've now played 10 spring contests, and are yet to lose since their first clash all the way back on February 25.
