After being nailed in the face by a 102 mph line drive, Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby lived to tell the harrowing tale.
Kirby, 27, was bleeding from his mouth after being hit by the ball in the fifth inning of the Mariners’ game against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, June 3. The pitcher was struck by a line drive off the bat of Orioles infielder Ramón Urías.
“I didn’t even hurt, honestly,” Kirby said after the game. “It got my hand — like 50/50, hand-mouth — but we’re good. There’s nothing wrong with it.”
Kirby managed to get his glove and hand up to partially deflect the ball before it collided with his mouth area.
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“I didn’t even see it coming, just put my hand up,” Kirby said. “I’m just glad it kind of missed any of the bad spots on my face.”
Kirby recorded the third out of the inning on the play and walked off the field with blood streaking down his chin. He did not return to the game and was seen being led up the dugout’s tunnel by Mariners vice president of high performance and medical, Rob Scheidegger.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson said that Kirby will undergo further evaluation, which might include X-rays.
“You just don’t know, sometimes, how those things go,” Wilson, 56, said after the game. “Because you have a lot of adrenaline going at the same time. But was just glad, I’m really happy that and hoping things turn out OK. And it could have been something way worse.”
Kirby was making his third start since returning from the injured list after missing the first eight weeks of the season with right shoulder inflammation.
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The Mariners ultimately lost the game 5-1, and Kirby recorded the loss. He finished with 5.0 innings pitched, giving up eight hits and two earned runs.
Despite the loss, Kirby said his pitch count of 96 — his highest since his final start of the 2024 season — was an encouraging sign.
“That was huge,” Kirby said. “I felt great. Obviously, I don’t want to throw many pitches in five innings. But I’m glad I feel really good from it — after it — so that’s a good sign.”
Kirby added, “I think they just got a little lucky with some of the hits getting through,” Kirby said. “But I definitely executed a hell a lot better this week. So, I’m super happy about that.”
