The Minnesota Twins headed into their Wednesday series finale against the Chicago White Sox at home, playing in front of just over 17,000 fans at Target Field on a beautiful afternoon with temperatures reaching the 80s.
Unfortunately, that warm spring heat would quickly be met with a stinging sensation for Kyle Farmer and everyone who had to witness a 92 mph fastball connecting with his mouth.
This ugly incident happened in the bottom of the fourth inning with White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito on the mound, leaving Farmer writhing in pain at home plate.
Obviously, this was a freak accident, with Giolito quickly showing immediate remorse for the mistake, but Farmer’s day was done. Filling in for Carlos Correa at shortstop and batting seventh, Farmer ended with one plate appearance and one strikeout. Willi Castro replaced him in the field.
Once he left the field of play, Farmer quickly received more medical attention as they tried to determine how badly he was hurt. Luckily, Farmer avoided facial fractures, with his jaw remaining intact. Yet that doesn’t mean he didn’t escape without injury.
Instead, Farmer will need dental work that reportedly will require surgery to “realign his teeth” while “fixing a major laceration of his lower jaw.”
There is no expected timetable for his return to the baseball diamond, and while this surgery sounds serious, at least Farmer is OK.
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