Baseball fans react to Boston Red Sox slugger Justin Turner giving health update after being beaned by pitch: "Hope you’re back in the game soon"
Justin Turner has all his "chiclets intact" after being struck in the face by a pitch during a Spring Training game Monday.
Turner, the Boston Red Sox third baseman/designated hitter, tweeted out a reference to the health of his teeth and head in general on Tuesday.
He provided the update to fans and well-wishers a day after being rushed to the hospital to receive 16 stitches after being beaned by a wild fastball from Detroit Tigers pitcher Matt Manning.
Thanks to everyone for all the messages and prayers! I’m feeling very fortunate to come out of yesterday with no breaks & all my chiclets in tact. The @RedSox medical staff and @Lee_Health have been absolutely amazing & I’m going to be back out on the field as soon as possible!
Onlookers were scared after watching the incident play out live on the New England Sports Network, which broadcasts the Red Sox games. Many were fearful that Justin Turner would suffer a far worse injury as he lay on the ground in the bottom of the first inning.
Fans flocked to Twitter to give their well-wishes to Turner for a speedy recovery.
@redturn2
Good to hear. Hope you're back in the game soon. twitter.com/redturn2/statu…
Good to hear. Could have been so much worse. twitter.com/redturn2/statu…
thank goodness. scary scene. twitter.com/redturn2/statu…
Plenty of those wishes came from a coast away as Los Angeles Dodgers fans sent their support via the Twitterverse to their former All-Star third baseman.
Justin Turner came into his own over nine seasons in Dodger Stadium, where he remains a fan favorite. In 2017, Turner was named the Most Valuable Player of the National League Championship Series in the same season in which he earned his first All-Star appearance in a season where he hit .322 with 21 home runs and 71 RBIs.
Despite signing a two-year, $22 million free agent contract with Boston last December, Turner still holds a special place in Dodger fans' hearts.
Blue, not red, hearts for this man. 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙 twitter.com/redturn2/statu…
Hey @RedSox - you had ONE job and that's to keep this treasure healthy until he gets back to LA!! 💙
@Dodgers twitter.com/redturn2/statu…
twitter.com/redturn2/statu…All Dodger Nation was worried about you too bro. You will always mean so much to us that bleed Dodger Blue. So glad you’re ok 🙏 twitter.com/redturn2/statu…
Widely regarded as one of the "good guys" in baseball, fans hope to see Turner back on the field soon. Turner's wife, Kortney, reported Monday night via Instagram that while her husband was resting, he was also likely listening to a replay of the game.
In her update, she noted:
"16 stitches and a lot of swelling but we are thanking God for no fractures and clear scans!"
Happy to Hear this fam!! Rest Up! twitter.com/redturn2/statu…
Best outcome! Hoping for a quick recovery! twitter.com/redturn2/statu…
King shit right here! Glad JT is ok and will be back on the field soon! #RedSox twitter.com/redturn2/statu…
While there will likely not be a timetable for Justin Turner's return for a while yet, the baseball world is relieved that he has emerged from the beaning in relatively good shape.
The good news everyone was hoping for.....
@RedSox #RedSox twitter.com/redturn2/statu…
Matt Manning plans to apologize to Justin Turner
Manning, a 25-year-old pitcher with 30 games of MLB experience over two seasons with the Tigers, said that the pitch was not intentional and that he plans to apologize to Turner at the earliest opportunity.
He told MLB.com:
"It was a complete accident; ball just got away. I got a swing and miss on a ball kind of up in the zone, so I tried to go back to it, and it just got away from me."