Hope He Doesn't Regret...

[clydepepper]

putting style before safety.


MESA, Ariz. -- The Los Angeles Dodgers survived a major scare Friday when ace Clayton Kershaw was struck in the face by a line drive in a spring training game against the Oakland Athletics.

Kershaw collapsed on the mound after Andy Parrino's broken-bat liner struck him. The left-hander sat there for a minute or two as Dodgers trainers and manager Don Mattingly rushed out of the dugout, but after working his jaw a few times and consulting with trainer Stan Conte, Kershaw threw a warm-up pitch and remained in the game.

Kershaw said he lost part of a tooth, but was otherwise unharmed. He got through his five scheduled innings, striking out four batters and allowing one run, then threw several more pitches in the bullpen. In his first at-bat of the spring, he also singled to left field off Athletics right-hander Sonny Gray.
"It felt like getting hit with a pitch, nothing serious," Kershaw said. "I don't think I panicked too much. It's just sore."

The lost tooth, which came from the back of his mouth, was recovered on the field.

Kershaw said he has seen the protective caps pitchers have been authorized to wear, but has never been tempted to try one.

Dodgers pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who does not wear a protective cap, was seriously injured when he was struck in the head by a line drive in a 2012 game.

"They make you look like Mario from the Nintendo game," Kershaw said