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Zack Cozart injury update: Cincinnati Reds shortstop's beaning left his ears ringing

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart had one word for the fifth-inning beaning Monday night that left him on the ground and his batting helmet cracked: Loud.

As frightening as the sight of the 89 mph fastball from Los Angeles Dogers pitcher Chad Billingsley hitting Cozart squarely in the head, the sound of it is what stuck with many of the witnesses, Cozart included, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

"It was so loud," Cozart said, according to the newspaper. "My ears were ringing. That's why when I was on the ground I was holding my ears."

Reds manager Dusty Baker also noted the sound, putting it in a different context, from 1981: "It was really loud. It reminded me of when Goose Gossage hit (Ron Cey) in the World Series, and I was on deck. That was a long time ago."

Meantime, Cozart didn’t think the pitch was intentional but, to be honest, he was in no condition to speculate.

"I don't know if it got away from him or what," he said. "I don't even really remember to be honest. It's kind of a blur."

Billingsley confirmed that the beaning was completely unintended. "I was trying to throw a two-seamer and it got away from me,” he said, according to “Definitely not the outcome I wanted."

After being hit, Cozart sat up after a minute or so.

"(Red trainer Paul Lessard) said, 'How you doing?'" Cozart said. "I said, 'Actually, pretty good.'"

He left the field under his own power, and afterward Cozart saw the doctors and took the standard concussion tests.

"I've been cleared, from what I understand," Cozart said, according to the Enquirer.

The Reds rallied against Billingsley to win, 8-2.

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