On the evening of April 8th, 2021, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brent Varland was struck in the jaw by a line drive off the bat of San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado. The incident occurred in the top of the fourth inning at Petco Park in San Diego.
Varland had just thrown a pitch to Machado when the ball came screaming back at him, striking him in the face. The force of the impact sent Varland to the ground and he lay motionless for several moments before being attended to by Brewers medical staff. After being evaluated on the field, Varland was taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.
The Brewers released a statement later that night saying that Varland had suffered a fractured jaw and would be out indefinitely. The team also expressed their gratitude to the Padres medical staff for their quick response and care.
The incident was a scary reminder of the dangers of playing baseball and the potential for serious injury that comes with it. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of wearing protective gear while playing, especially for pitchers who are particularly vulnerable to line drives.
Varland is expected to make a full recovery, but it is unclear when he will be able to return to pitching. In the meantime, the Brewers will need to find a way to fill his spot in the rotation.
The incident was a sobering reminder of the risks that come with playing baseball, but it also serves as a reminder of the importance of safety precautions and protective gear. We wish Brent Varland a speedy recovery and hope he is able to return to the mound soon.
