Scary Incident Leaves Red Sox Pitcher With Facial Fracture

It was a frightening scene on the mound Friday night as Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck was struck in the face with a line drive, leaving him bleeding profusely. It was first thought to be just a contusion, but the hospital examination has proven a bit more serious.

Red Sox announce an update on Tanner Houck: Tanner Houck was evaluated last night at Mass General Hospital. He suffered a facial fracture but is currently resting at home in stable condition. Follow-up appointments next week will determine next steps and a treatment plan.

— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) June 17, 2023

Houck suffered a facial fracture and is currently resting at home in stable condition. He'll have follow-up appointments next week to determine the next steps and a treatment plan. 

The incident occurred in the top of the fifth inning of their game against the New York Yankees when Houck was belted below the right eye by a line drive off the bat of Kyle Higashioka. 

Scary sight at Fenway as Tanner Houck gets hit in the face.

He did walk off under his own power and seemed to motion to his teammates.

Awful.

pic.twitter.com/SCHPwj2WFN

— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) June 17, 2023

Houck walked off the field under his own power. “He was conscious the whole time, so that's good,” said manager Alex Cora. "He knew where he was right away and he kept saying he was fine. We just have to make sure we slow him down. I saw him while he was getting stitches. I mean, he got lucky. Let's put it that way.”

The Red Sox, however, will be without Houck for an undetermined amount of time.