Alex Bregman Hospitalized After Being Hit by Foul Ball in Cubs' 9-1 Win

Alex Bregman suffered a facial injury in the fourth inning of Sunday's game against Cincinnati and was taken to a hospital for diagnostic testing.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman was transported to a hospital for X-rays and CT scans after being struck in the left cheekbone by a foul ball during Sunday's 9-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The incident occurred in the fourth inning when left-handed batter Michael Busch checked his swing on a pitch from right-hander Luis Mey, sending a foul ball into the grass several feet in front of the on-deck circle where Bregman was standing.

Bregman, who went 1-for-1 with an RBI, a walk, and a run scored before exiting, was seen bleeding from his nose with visible swelling under his eye. Following the injury, Matt Shaw entered the game as a replacement, drawing a walk and playing second base while Pedro Ramirez moved to third. Manager Craig Counsell noted that Bregman's eye was swollen shut and bruised, and a decision on whether the infielder would travel back to Chicago remained pending results from the medical facility.

Despite the win, the Cubs did not clinch a postseason berth on Sunday due to an 8-4 Arizona Diamondbacks victory over the New York Yankees. Bregman, who signed a five-year, $175 million contract in January, is currently batting .262 with 26 home runs and 89 RBIs. The team has not yet determined how his potential absence might affect the roster for the upcoming postseason.