VIDEO: Braves' Charlie Culberson Takes Baseball to the Face on Bunt Attempt in Terrifying Display
By Ryan Giglio
The Atlanta Braves may have lost an important bench piece on Saturday, as Charlie Culberson was hit in the face with a fastball while squaring to bunt, living out the nightmare of every baseball player.
Charlie Culberson squares to bunt and it goes right off his face. Ouch. pic.twitter.com/bd0l0sOKaq
— Paul Sporer (@sporer) September 14, 2019
Culberson immediately went down and looked to be in serious pain. Braves third base coach Ron Washington was among those who comforted the utility man as the trainers attended to him.
Rodney hits Culberson in the face with a pitch while he was squared to bunt. Oh man, this looks bad. Damn. Wash is comforting him, while trainer holds towel to face.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) September 14, 2019
Fortunately for the Braves, Culberson was able to walk under his own power and gave the Nationals Park crowd a thumbs up while being carted off the field.
Charlie Culberson gives a thumbs up while being carted off the field.
— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) September 14, 2019
Nationals fans give the @Braves utilityman a standing ovation. pic.twitter.com/PKlamlvoUq
The aftermath of the play was not pretty, either, due to incompetent umpiring. The home plate umpire ruled the pitch a strike, saying that Culberson continued to offer at the pitch while trying to get out of the way.
Snitker ejected for arguing vehemently when umpire ruled that Culberson offered at it and called it a strike. Snit was right -- that was fuc*ing unbelievable. Terrible call by the ump.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) September 14, 2019
A furious Brain Snitker was ejected for arguing with the umpire about the horrendous call, something you simply have to let slide under the circumstances.