Rangers' Josh Smith gets 6 stitches, but good after pitch to face
Rangers outfielder Josh Smith has six stitches on the lower right side of his face, a cut inside his mouth and some slight swelling, but no fractures after getting hit in the face with a pitch.
"I feel pretty good actually. I slept good," Smith said Tuesday in the Rangers clubhouse. "It's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Really no pain or anything like that."
The left-handed batter was struck in the face on a 1-0 pitch from Baltimore left-hander Danny Coulombe in Monday night's game. It was a scary situation when Smith spun back to his left and dropped to the dirt in the batter's box, breaking his fall with his left hand while holding his bloodied face with his right hand.
Smith said he had cleared concussion protocol, though he anticipated he would continue to be monitored to make sure there are no issues. He said he also would probably see a dentist, though he didn't lose any teeth.
Manager Bruce Bochy said there were no immediate plans for Smith to go on in the injured list.
Smith has watched the replay a couple of times.
"Looks like a boxer, like when they get punched and their whole face comes off their body," Smith said.