Guardians DH David Fry hospitalized after taking a 99 mph fastball to the face

During a critical matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field on September 23, 2025, a frightening moment unfolded when Guardians designated hitter David Fry was struck in the face by a 99 mph fastball from Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. The incident occurred in the bottom of the sixth inning with runners on the corners and no outs as Fry squared around for a sacrifice bunt. Skubal’s high-velocity pitch ran inside, and as Fry attempted to bunt, the ball ricocheted off the top of his bat directly into his face. Fry immediately collapsed in pain, bleeding from his nose, as both teams and the crowd watched anxiously while medical staff rushed to his aid.

Skubal, the 2024 AL Cy Young Award winner and one of the league’s most dominant pitchers (2.23 ERA, 189.1 IP this season), was visibly shaken by the incident, tossing aside his glove and hat in distress. After a tense delay, Fry was carted off the field, replaced by pinch hitter George Valera. Because the ball touched Fry’s bat before hitting his face, the pitch was ruled a foul ball, and the count moved to 2-2.

This game carried major playoff implications, as Cleveland entered the series trailing Detroit by just one game atop the AL Central. Despite the loss of Fry, the Guardians capitalized on the shaken Skubal, who subsequently threw a wild pitch and committed a balk, allowing Cleveland to take a 3-2 lead. They maintained this advantage for a 5-2 win, pulling even with the Tigers and clinching the season tiebreaker.

David Fry’s 2025 campaign had already been eventful. After earning his first All-Star nod and delivering a .279 average with 8 home runs in the first half, Fry was hampered by injuries but still managed to contribute in key moments, including a historic postseason run. Known for his versatility, Fry played at catcher, first base, left field, and even made appearances as a pitcher. His on-base skills (.350 OBP) and power against left-handed pitching (.287/.430/.586) have been crucial for the Guardians all season. Notably, Cleveland is 54-32 in games Fry starts, underlining his impact on the roster.

After the incident, Fry indicated he was “OK” but was hospitalized as a precaution. His absence comes at a pivotal moment for the Guardians, who, with five games left, are poised to complete one of the largest comebacks in MLB history if they can secure the division title after trailing by as many as 15.5 games earlier in the season.

For further coverage and real-time updates, follow David Fry on ESPN and check out the latest news from MLB on Twitter.

Fry’s resilience and the Guardians’ determination have defined their 2025 season, setting the stage for a dramatic finish to the AL Central race and potentially a historic postseason run.