Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson was hit in the head with Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Nate Pearson’s first pitch after allowing a home run to Jeimer Candelario in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Monday night at Great American Ball Park.
Umpires convened as Stephenson glared and shouted at Pearson, and they ejected Pearson. Cubs manager Craig Counsell came out to argue, and also was ejected.
“He hit him in the (expletive) head, Craig,” home-plate umpire James Hoye appeared to explain to Counsell, shortly before Counsell was ejected.
Regardless of whether it’s intentional or not (after a home run), it happened,” Bally Sports Ohio analyst and Reds Hall of Famer Barry Larkin said during the broadcast. “It looks like Tyler (Stephenson) is OK, and that’s the most important thing.”
Stephenson told reporters he felt fine after the game.
Any time you get hit in the head, a lot of things can go wrong,” Stephenson added, via Bally Sports Ohio. “But I feel fine. There’s a lot of obviously adrenaline. I’m still going to wind down from it. Something to monitor. I don’t think it’s going to be anything. Just keep an eye on it. That’s what all of the trainers have said. … I’m not gonna try to turn it into anything, intentional or not. It hits the head. I don’t think anybody should be doing that. Throw it over the plate. Dansby (Swanson) I know really well. And he came up to me and talked to me, and we talked. I mean, yeah. Just throw it over the plate.”
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