MILWAUKEE — Brewers shortstop Willie Adams had to spend the night in the hospital after being struck by a foul ball from teammate Brian Anderson while watching from the dugout during Friday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants.
“He was alert and responsive, and then we got great news in the hospital as well,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said after the Giants’ 15–1 victory. “Obviously, she’s in pain. But I guess overall I think not bad news, considering how scary it was.”
Counsel said tests showed no fractures, but Adams would remain in the hospital overnight “just for monitoring purposes” and would be placed on the injured list.
“He is expected to be released tomorrow morning,” the counsel said. “It would be a concussion. It would be an IL.”
Anderson was at bat in the bottom of the second inning when he hit a line drive to Adams. The video showed that Adams was hit on the head or face.
The game was stopped for a few minutes to allow Milwaukee’s training staff to sit on the bench for Adams. Anderson’s worry was clearly visible on his face as he waited near the batsman’s box.
“Initially from the sound of it, I thought it hit the padded pad,” said Brewers infielder Mike Brosseau, who was on deck at the time. “The way he reacted to it, you’re scared, and then after a few seconds of him being on the bench, I realized it was a little more serious than that. I heard more than I saw.
“It’s one chance in a million,” said Brosseau. “It’s just scary. I don’t know how hard BA hit that ball, but I do know it was heating up. To make direct contact like that, yeah, it’s really bad to see.”
The situation seemed to affect the Brewers emotionally throughout the rest of the night.
After Bryce Turang replaced Adams at shortstop, Milwaukee committed two errors and gave up seven runs in the top of the third inning as the Giants put the game away. Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta, a close friend of Adams, gave up a career-high 10 runs.
Peralta said, “It’s hard to see someone you love go away in that moment.”
Adams has been one of the Brewers’ emotional leaders and most popular players since they acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays in May 2021. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player by the Milwaukee Chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. last two seasons.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.