Royals pitcher Ryan Yarbrough’s start against the A’s ended abruptly on Sunday after he was forced out of the eventual 5–1 home victory following a frightening head injury in the sixth inning.
With Kansas City leading Oakland 2–1, Yarbrough faced his second batter of the inning in A’s first baseman Ryan Noda. The veteran lefty logged a strike and three balls across his first five pitches before Noda cracked his sixth pitch back toward the mound.
The 106.2 mph line drive careened into Yarbrough’s face, causing the pitcher to immediately clutch his head after he fell to the ground. Royals manager Matt Quatraro and K.C.’s training staff tended to Yarbrough for a few moments before he walked to the dugout under his own power with a towel over his face as the home crowd cheered him on.
