When San Diego Padres relief pitcher Alex Torres took to the mound against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning on Saturday night, he made MLB history. The veteran became the first pitcher in the history of the Majors to wear a protective cap when on the bump during a game.
You can hardly even notice it… pic.twitter.com/WF55Ziw9Mg
— Brett Anderson (@_BAnderson30_) June 22, 2014
Torres relieved Alex Cobb in Tampa Bay last season when the Rays pitcher went down after being struck in the head. According to Torres, he thought long and hard about wearing the cap after a close call during spring training.
Alex Torres said a close call in spring training scared him a bit. Ordered the protective cap about a month ago. Arrived a week ago.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) June 22, 2014
Brett Anderson’s joke aside, this could end up becoming somewhat of a norm for MLB pitchers, especially after recent injury scares…the latest of which coming when Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman was hit in the face back in March.
Photo: UT San Diego