Witt has left forearm contusion after HBP, but avoids fracture
Anne Rogers
@anne__rogersPEORIA, Ariz. -- Bobby Witt Jr. seemed to avoid the worst after being hit by a fastball during the Royals’ 7-6 win over the Mariners on Wednesday afternoon.
The Royals' shortstop did not suffer a fracture, the team announced, with X-rays coming back negative. He’s dealing with a left forearm contusion and will continue to be evaluated in the coming days.
In the top of the fifth inning Wednesday, Witt was hit by a 95.9 mph pitch from Mariners reliever Andrés Mu?oz and immediately fell to the ground in pain, holding his left arm.
The Royals' shortstop walked into the dugout shortly after with manager Matt Quatraro and a trainer. Quatraro said Witt was scheduled to come out of the game in the next inning anyway.
“He said initially that he just lost feeling in his fingers, but he said it was coming back,” Quatraro said on the field immediately after the Royals’ game ended. “I can’t speak for what he was feeling other than that he said he couldn’t feel his fingers, but there is a nerve in that area.”
After he was hit, Witt stayed in the dugout for another half-inning, holding his left arm, but looked to be trying to shake off the pain and keep moving around. He left the dugout and headed toward the visiting clubhouse with a trainer in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Royals outfielder Nelson Velázquez also exited in the bottom of the fifth inning Wednesday with an apparent injury after going after a ball in right field. He misplayed a fly ball from Mariners third baseman Jorge Polanco and tried to redirect to catch it, but seemed to injure his leg in the process.
Quatraro said that Velázquez exited with a calf cramp and that the Royals will see how he feels on Thursday.