San Diego Padres pitcher Cole Paplham was removed from a spring training game on a medical cart Friday after being struck in the face by a 102.4 mph line drive off the bat of Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Aaron Bracho.
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Paplham, who remained conscious and alert, was clearly in pain after the terrifying incident. While there was no visible blood on his face, the impact left him shaken. "Our prayers are with him," Padres manager Mike Shildt said after the game. "He was conscious, seemed alert, knew where he was. But clearly a scary thing... He was clearly in some pain, and obviously when something like that happens, a little bit rattled."
The 24-year-old right-hander was able to walk to the medical cart on his own. But technical difficulties with the cart caused a brief delay in his departure to the training room. Paplham was later evaluated by team medical staff in Glendale, Arizona, per reports from multiple news outlets.
Pitcher Safety Needed?
The incident comes just days after another pitcher was struck by a line drive at the same facility. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller was hit by a line drive during a spring training game on Tuesday. He remains in concussion protocol. The back-to-back injuries have sparked renewed discussions about the safety of pitchers on the mound. Some fans suggesting Major League Baseball should mandate additional head protection for pitchers.
"Dude got a chin, respect. Hope he's ok," one fan remarked on social media after Paplham's injury, while others pushed for MLB to require helmets for pitchers. "MLB will start making pitchers wear helmets," another fan tweeted.
Paplham, a Green Bay native, is a rising star in the Padres' organization. He posted a solid 3.60 earned-run average (ERA) across stops in low-A, high-A, and Double-A in 2023. However, Paplham's 2024 season was marred by injuries that limited his appearances.
The incident is a reminder of the dangers pitchers face every time they take the mound, and it's certain to fuel the ongoing debate over player safety moving forward.
