During a week in which Yankees manager Aaron Boone called his players “savages” (in a good way — trust us), first baseman Luke Voit proved him right in an unlikely way Saturday.
Voit took a 91 mph fastball in the face from Rockies pitcher Chad Bettis, according to ESPN.com. Instead of reacting, he calmly trotted to first base. He eventually scored a run and then left the game, but not before earning the admiration of his teammates and revelers alike.
The face pitch
The Yankees already were winning 6-0 when Bettis, who relieved starting pitcher Anthony Senzatela, threw a fastball than ran up and in on Voit and hit him squarely in the chin.
A concerned Boone quickly runs out to check on him. But Voit waves him off and takes his base.
Luke Voit got hit by a fastball IN THE FACE and tried to stay in the game.
Monster.
(via @YESNetwork) pic.twitter.com/QUDgk4oiaH
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 20, 2019
Leaving the game
In an age of rightful concern about concussions, Voit wasn’t going to stay in the game for long. After he came around to score a run, the Yankees subbed for him and put him through tests.
He passed them all, leaving just a chin bruise from an incident that would have left some of us in bed for a week.
Luke Voit left the game for precautionary reasons, and underwent concussion protocol testing. Those came back clear, and he has no further testing at this time, according to the Yankees.
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) July 20, 2019
The reaction
Plenty of teammates and pundits alike were in awe.
“[That] doesn’t surprise me. I don’t think it surprises you guys, either,” Yankees catcher Austin Romine told reporters, according to ESPN.com. “If you know Luke, you know he’s going to play the game. The guy’s like a bull out there.”
Luke Voit’s toughness will never be questioned after injury scare https://t.co/LukzLAhzuH pic.twitter.com/e14Evx8Ift
— New York Post (@nypost) July 21, 2019
