Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Amed Rosario left Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates after being hit in the head with a 99 mph fastball from Pirates rookie Jared Jones.
Jones' third pitch to the right-handed Rosario went up and in, striking Rosario's helmet. Rosario crouched over for several moments at scorching PNC Park, where the game-time temperature was 95 degrees, before being helped off the field by members of the Tampa Bay training staff.
Richie Palacios ran for Rosario. Palacios then took over at second base at the bottom of the first, while starting second baseman Jose Caballero slid over to third to take Rosario's spot on defense.
Later in the game, the Rays announced that Rosario suffered "facial lacerations," but no broken bones. After the loss, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters that Rosario is not expected to go on the injured list, adding that he had a "stitch or two" on his lip. Overall, Cash called the outcome a "best-case scenario."
"That was a scary moment for both clubs," Cash said, "certainly our club, and I'm glad he's OK."
Rosario was the second Tampa Bay player hit by Jones in the top of the first. The right-hander hit designated hitter Brandon Lowe in the side earlier. Cash believed that Lowe suffered a broken pinky toe, but the manager wasn't suspecting a stint on the injured list for him either.
Control hasn't been an issue much this year for Jones, who entered Saturday with 22 walks and two hit batters in 79 innings. He calmed down the rest of the way, pitching seven full innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out eight en route to his fifth win of the year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.