Alex Bregman Undergoing Tests After Taking Foul Ball to the Face

Getting hit in the face by a baseball is one of those occupational hazards that sounds bad on paper but is infinitely worse in reality. Alex Bregman is currently finding that out the hard way.

According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Chicago Cubs third baseman is undergoing tests after taking a foul ball straight to the face on Sunday.

"MLB Trade Rumors reported Bregman is undergoing tests after being hit in the face by a foul ball."

If you were holding a Bregman total bases prop or banking on the Cubs' lineup staying intact for the week, it is time to pivot. Facial injuries in baseball are the ultimate wild card. They range from a bruised ego and a day off to a multi-week stint on the injured list while waiting for your eye to open again.

This is just the latest brutal break for Bregman in a season that has felt cursed. He already missed seven weeks earlier this year with a severe right quad strain that completely derailed a torrid start.

For context, Bregman was posting a massive 156 wRC+ before that leg injury. After returning, he dropped to a perfectly average 100 wRC+. Now, just as he is trying to find his swing again, he has to deal with a baseball to the cheekbone.

The human face is simply not designed to absorb a high-speed projectile. No amount of ice or toughness cliches from a manager is going to change the basic physics of a foul ball meeting a jaw.

The Cubs will obviously keep him out of the lineup while they wait for the test results to clear him of any fractures or concussion symptoms. Expect a corresponding roster move if the imaging shows anything structural, and keep an eye on Chicago's infield rotation as they scramble to fill the void at the hot corner.