Tigers' Ferrell struck in head by 103-mph line drive
Detroit Tigers reliever Jeff Ferrell left Monday's game after being struck in the head by a 103-mph line drive off the bat of Oakland's Ryon Healy in the eighth inning.
Jeff Ferrell getting hit in the head on a comebacker and amazingly not going down. Damn... #Tigers pic.twitter.com/QK0q8DSE1G
— The Majors Detroit (@TMSNXDetroit) September 19, 2017
The ball struck Ferrell on the side of his head and ricocheted down the right-field line, giving Healy a single on the play. Incredibly, the 6-foot-4 Ferrell was not knocked down by the impact. After briefly being checked out he was escorted to the clubhouse by Tigers training staff, and was replaced on the mound by Joe Jimenez.
After the game, manager Brad Ausmus said the 26-year-old was sent to hospital for further testing.
"He was sent to get a CT scan to make sure there was no skull fracture or anything like that. Initially, the signs are pretty good," Ausmus said, according to Evan Woodberry of MLive.com. "He'll be put through the concussion protocol but he was responsive and very alert the entire time. We're optimistic he's going to be fine."
Ferrell came into Monday's game sporting a 6.23 ERA in 10 outings for Detroit this year.