A's pitcher Chris Bassitt takes 100mph line drive off his face

Oakland Athletics All-Star pitcher Chris Bassitt will require surgery after suffering a fractured right cheek when he was hit in the head with a 100mph line drive on Tuesday night in Chicago. 

'[Bassitt has been] diagnosed with a displaced tripod fracture in his right cheek that will require surgery,' read a team statement. 'An exam of his right eye was normal for vision, and no other damage is currently noted in the eye or the orbital bone. In addition, a head CT scan revealed no further injury.' 

He has since been released from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Bassitt's injury occurred during a game against the Chicago White Sox -  which the A's went on to lose 9-0 - when centerfielder Brian Goodwin knocked a vicious line drive up the middle. 

The 100.1mph liner was too fast for Bassitt who was still following through on his pitching motion when he was struck in the face, causing him to immediately keel over on the mound.  

As Goodwin ran to first, A's infielders quickly realized what had occurred and rushed to Bassitt's aid. 

Bassitt was treated in the infield for several minutes before being carted off and replaced by reliever Burch Smith.   

The Oakland A's posted a tweet assuring fans he was fine, writing: 'Chris Bassitt is conscious and aware, and is on his way to the hospital. We will provide additional information when possible.' 

And his manager Bob Melvin said Bassitt 'never lost consciousness.'

'We don't think the eye is a problem at this point. It felt like it was below it. He's got some cuts that [need] some stitches,' Melvin said, as quoted by ESPN. 'He's in a scan and we'll know more about potential fractures tomorrow.'

The White Sox shared their best wishes for Bassitt on social media. 

Goodwin did not speak with reporters after the game, but did post a message for Bassitt on Twitter:  'Most definitely, Chris, you are in my prayers for sure brother.

Chicago may have emerged victorious, but their manager Tony La Russa said the incident left 'a dark cloud around the game', while White Sox pitcher Reynaldo Lopez admitted he was left shaken by what he had seen.

'When you see something like that, it's hard to digest because... as a pitcher, we know that that can happen,' he said, speaking through a translator. 'It's like, that could happen to me and it's scary. Every time you see something like that is tough to swallow.'

Their third baseman Jake Lamb added that this was 'bigger than baseball'. 

'It's a lot bigger than baseball at that point,' he said. 'Anytime you get hit in the head like that, it's a very scary situation.'

Bassitt's agency, Meister Sports, also shared a message for their client: 'Chris will be better than ever and back to doing what he loves soon, and thanks everyone for their prayers and support... Things like this remind us that in most ways were of one heart and one mind.' 

Reference: Daily Mail :Oli Gamp For Mailonline