Sunday turned out to be a really bad day for Chicago sports fans.
Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman had to leave Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds after suffering a freak injury. During the fourth inning at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, Bregman was standing in the on-deck circle during an at-bat by Cubs teammate Michael Busch.
On a 1-2 count, Busch checked his swing and sliced a foul ball right in Bregman’s direction. The errant foul struck Bregman in the head, and he immediately grabbed at his face in pain.
Alex Bregman was struck in the face by a foul ball while in the on-deck circle.
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) September 20, 2026
He was helped down the dugout steps with a towel to his face and was forced to exit the game. pic.twitter.com/ACj2a2ZEgT
Bregman, who would have to leave the game on the spot, appeared to be bleeding from a cut underneath his eye. He was attended to by the Cubs’ training staff and walked off into the clubhouse under his own power.
Status alert: Alex Bregman (head) left Sunday's game after being struck by foul ball in on-deck circle.pic.twitter.com/tFXqYAENsA
— Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) September 20, 2026
While the ball did hit the ground before striking Bregman, it still seemed to come in with a good amount of velocity. Bregman ended up being replaced in the game by teammate Matt Shaw as the Cubs went on to beat the Reds by a 9-1 final score.
The three-time MLB All-Star Bregman, 32, entered play on Sunday batting .260 with 26 home runs and 88 RBIs over 152 games, having turned things around after a rather unsightly start to the season. The 87-69 Cubs are closing in on clinching a Wild Card spot, but they will need Bregman healthy and in the lineup if they want to make any sort of deep playoff run.
