Kansas City Royals’ Kyle Isbel leaves game after taking a foul ball to the face

Kansas City Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel was involved in a scary on-field incident in a 7-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at Tropicana Field.

In the seventh inning, Isbel faced Rays reliever Garrett Cleavinger in a key situation. KC had loaded the bases with no outs. The score was tied 2-2.

Isbel stepped to the plate and swung at a first-pitch sinker. He made contact with the baseball, but the foul tip ricocheted and hit him in the face and helmet.

“I think we are extremely lucky,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “It’s a facial laceration. We are not exactly sure what it hit or didn’t hit. But it got him on the bridge of the nose. Just a cut and he is getting further testing just to make sure everything is OK.”

Quatraro and medical personnel raced to home plate. Isbel was given a towel as he was evaluated on the field.

After a few moments, Isbel was escorted to the clubhouse. The Royals inserted Dairon Blanco to pinch hit in his spot.

Blanco hit a sacrifice fly as the Royals took a 3-2 lead.

“I’ve talked to him and he is in really good spirits,” Royals starter Brady Singer said. “Obviously got him in the face a little bit there. But he is as tough as a bull. So I expect him to be back quick.”

The Royals pulled out the win in extra innings on Saturday. The club won its eighth consecutive game and improved to 34-19.

Several players expressed concerns for Isbel. They are glad he was OK after the scary moment on the field.

“He seems to be doing OK,” veteran Adam Frazier said. “You know, he is a huge piece of our team. So we need him back in there hopefully soon. We are glad that he is OK, though. Any time (something happens) like that it is scary.”

Royals outfielder Nelson Velázquez echoed a similar message.

“It’s always scary when stuff like that happens to one of your teammates,” Velázquez said. “You don’t want to say it’s part of the game because you don’t want to see that happen to anybody. But at the end of the day, I know he is going to get better. He is going to be back with us soon.”