Royals' Alcides Escobar leaves game after being hit in head by pitch

Written By Brandon Schlager
(Getty Images)

Another day, another Royals player hit by a pitch.

This time it was shortstop Alcides Escobar, who was beaned on the left side of his helmet by a 96-mph Danny Salazar fastball during the fifth inning of Wednesday's game against the Indians.

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Escobar dropped to the ground immediately and stayed face-down to the ground for several moments as two trainers rushed to his aid. He eventually walked to the clubhouse with help from the trainers. An update on his condition was not immediately available.

Salazar seemed visibly upset over the incident, and joined the crowd in applause as Escobar exited the field. He was not ejected from the game.

Escobar is the 20th Royals batter this season to be hit by a pitch, equaling the Rangers for most in MLB. Escobar was injured in a game against the Athletics earlier this season on what he called a dirty play when Brett Lawrie slid hard into second base, causing tension between the clubs.

Kansas City pitcher Yordano Ventura, who was ejected from his last two starts, is facing a seven-game suspension for his role in a benches-clearing brawl against the White Sox last week. Ventura, the Royals' starter Wednesday, didn't retaliate in the bottom half of the inning and exited the game after allowing five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work.