Diamondbacks pitcher OK after taking line drive to face

The Sports Xchange

10 years ago

Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley lay motionless on the field after being hit by a line drive in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley reacts on the field as he is tended to by trainers after being hit by a line drive in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Yasmany Tomas (left) and second baseman Chris Owings (right) tend to pitcher Archie Bradley after being hit by a line drive in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley reacts on the field as he is tended to by trainers after being hit in the face by a line drive in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley is led off the field by trainers after being hit in the face by a line drive in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings covers his face with his hat as he reacts alongside teammates after pitcher Archie Bradley (not pictured) was hit in the face by a second inning line drive against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; The crowd cheers as Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley is led off the field by trainers after being hit in the face by a line drive in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

Apr 28, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks players look on as trainers to to pitcher Archie Bradley on the field after being hit in the face by a line drive in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks rookie right-hander Archie Bradley appeared to sustain only minor injuries when he was struck in the face by a line drive in Tuesday’s game.

A second-inning comebacker struck by Colorado Rockies right fielder Carlos Gonzalez knocked down Bradley on the mound and forced him to leave game.

Bradley was taken to a hospital for tests, and he never lost consciousness, the Diamondbacks announced.

Although doctors will check again for fractures when the swelling on the right side of his face subsides, Bradley showed no signs of concussion or neurological damage, D-backs trainer Ken Crenshaw said. The only apparent issues were small changes in the sinus cavity.

“The jaw looks great, his orbital looks great, vision’s fine and all of those things looked really well,” Crenshaw said. “So it looks favorable. They just want a favorable read (Wednesday).”

Bradley set a franchise record by recording a 1.45 ERA in his first three career starts, and he was the fifth player in the majors since 1914 to give up two hits or fewer in six innings or more in two of his first three starts.

Early in Bradley’s fourth start, Gonzalez hit a 2-0 breaking ball.

“Tried to throw a curveball in there for a strike and saw the pitch going toward the plate,” Bradley said. “Then I kind of woke up and I was lying down. And I was like, ‘Oh, crap, what just happened.’”

He was taken to Phoenix St. Joseph’s Hospital for tests but was back in the clubhouse by the time the Diamondbacks completed their 12-5 victory over the Rockies.