Texas Rangers Outfielder Josh Smith Feeling 'Good' After HBP to Face

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Smith was back at Globe Life Field after being hit by a pitch in Monday's loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Other than a few stitches and bruises, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Smith was back at Globe Life Field on Tuesday feeling fine and thankful that his frightening injury the night before wasn’t worse.

Smith was hit by an errant pitch in the face early in Monday’s 2-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles and hospitalized for further testing. He was released without any major damage.

“I feel pretty good, actually slept good,” Smith said. “It’s not as bad as I thought it was gonna be, but really no pain or anything like that, so that’s good. Yeah, I got six stitches and then I have like a cut inside my mouth, but that’s about it.”

Smith will probably see a dentist since the blow was mainly to his jaw. He reported that his vision was fine and cleared concussion protocols.

Smith was hit once in the face in college at LSU, but it wasn’t as hard as the 89-mph pitch thrown by Orioles reliever Danny Coulombe. Smith was able to remember some details from Monday night.

“I hit the ground,” Smith said. “And I just saw blood kind of pouring out and so I was like, ‘Oh gosh, I don’t know.’ I didn’t really want to stay on the ground gone too long, so I just tried to get up and just get off the field as fast as possible.”

Smith was thankful the team’s medical staff for getting to his aid quickly. His wife and members of the front office were at the hospital Monday night, and Smith was able to watch the remainder of the game. He left the hospital sometime around 10:30 p.m.

Smith plans to wear a protective flap on his batting helmet going forward. As for Smith’s return to the field, he hopes to be back soon.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Smith probably will not go on the injured list.

“I’m hopeful for less than a week, but, I mean, we don’t know,” Smith said. “I guess he’s kind of just got to see how it is once a once I kind of get back in activity.”

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