Atlanta Braves outfielder Charlie Culberson left Saturday night’s game against the Washington Nationals after he was hit in the face with a pitch from Fernando Rodney, and he has fortunately already been released from the hospital.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said Sunday that Culberson suffered fractures, but he did not have to spend the night in the hospital.
Brian Snitker just have an update on Charlie Culberson: He did not spend the night in the hospital and will go back to Atlanta today ahead of the team. Snitker said Culberson suffered fractures but did not specify which bones.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) September 15, 2019
That sounds incredibly painful, but it is good news all things considered. The fact that Culberson was already sent home from the hospital is a positive sign, especially when you see how brutal the injury looked. You can see a video of the pitch below, but keep in mind it may be difficult to watch:
Charlie Culberson squares to bunt and it goes right off his face. Ouch. pic.twitter.com/bd0l0sOKaq
— Paul Sporer (@sporer) September 14, 2019
Home plate umpire Tim Timmons said after Washington’s 10-1 win that Nationals manager Dave Martinez appealed to him on the play to see if Culberson offered at the pitch, which he did. That led to Snitker coming out of the dugout and giving the umpiring crew an earful, but Martinez said Sunday that the conversation he had with Timmons was misrepresented by the umpire.
Dave Martinez also notes that how Tim Timmons portrayed their conversation to the media regarding whether Charlie Culberson swung — saying Martinez asked for an appeal — is not how Martinez remembered it on the field. He didn’t want to expand on that.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) September 15, 2019
Dave Martinez on how he approached that moment following Charlie Culberson getting hit: “To be honest with you, the last thing I want to do is be a jackass. I would think that everyone would understand that.”
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) September 15, 2019
Rodney also expressed remorse over what happened and said Sunday that he was hoping to get a message to Culberson.
Nationals reliever Fernando Rodney spoke today after hitting Charlie Culberson in the face with a 91-mph two-seamer. He said that he emotionally didn’t want to keep pitching but knew professionally he had to.
“I feel sorry that happened.”
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) September 15, 2019
It’s always a terrifying thing when a batter takes a pitch to the face, and we’re glad to hear Culberson was not hospitalized for very long. We’ll have to wait to see the extent of the facial fractures.
