Texas Rangers Outfielder Josh Smith Doesn't Fear Playing Return

After being hit in the face by a pitch, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Smith is ready to hit again.

Getting back in the batter’s box for the first time might be a weird experience for Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Smith.

Then again, it might not.

At some point, Smith will return to the Rangers lineup after being drilled in the face by a pitch Monday night against the Baltimore Orioles. He’s likely not headed to the injured list, so his comeback is sooner rather than later.

Smith was hospitalized, but released after scans revealed no significant damage. He’s got some bruising and swelling around his jaw, plus six stitches on the right side of his face.

Otherwise, Smith feels fine and isn’t dealing with much pain. Once he’s back playing, facing another pitcher just 60 feet and six inches away shouldn’t be a problem.

“You never know what’s gonna happen,” Smith said Tuesday from the Rangers clubhouse at Globe Life Field. “The chances of it happening again – I don’t want to jinx it – but are probably very low.

“I don’t think I’ll have a problem getting back and I’ve done it before. So I think the best thing is just to get back in and not really think about it.”

Smith, a left-handed hitter, plans to use a batting helmet with a protective flap on the right side of his face.

“I think that the flap will probably give you some protection, too,” he said. “So honestly, I’d like to just hop in and just kind of get back.”

Not only is Smith not worried about facing live pitching again, watching video of how his face reacted to being hit by Orioles reliever Danny Coulombe wasn’t an issue, either.

“Really, I have watched it a couple of times,” Smith said. “It’s just kind of crazy. Like how when you slow it down like the whole face is just moving, but really, I didn’t have a problem watching it.”

The Rangers (3-2) attempt to snap a two-game losing streak Wednesday against the Orioles (3-2) at 1:05 p.m. at Globe Life Field.

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