Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry left Tuesday’s game after a terrifying moment at Progressive Field. In the sixth inning, Fry squared to bunt and was struck in the face by a 99-mph fastball from Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. The ball deflected off his bat and slammed into his face.
Fry went down right away as trainers and manager Stephen Vogt rushed onto the field. After a few tense minutes, Fry was able to stand on his own but was carted off for further medical attention. He was first taken to Lutheran Medical Center and then transferred to the Cleveland clinic, where he is undergoing further evaluation. The team said he did not lose consciousness.
Now, a perfectly timed photo has surfaced on social media showing the exact moment David Fry was hit. The image captures the ball smashing into his face, and it’s as brutal and scary as fans feared. The picture quickly went viral, with many calling it one of the most horrifying baseball images in recent memory.
Horroroso, David Fry, de los Guardianes de Cleveland fue impactado por un lanzamiento a 99 millas por horas. Esperemos en Dios que todo esté bien con este jugador. ¡Nadie quiere ver esto! pic.twitter.com/XQXIkfSJJV
— Eliezer González Caraballo (@ElTioElie) September 24, 2025
“I’ve already reached out to him,” Skuibal, who was once in Cy Young award conversation earlier this season, said.
“I’m sure his phone has blown up. Just want to make sure he’s all right. Obviously, he seemed like he was OK coming off the field, and then hopefully it stays that way. I know sometimes with those things, they can change.”
David Fry Injury Overshadows Guardians’ Win
Before the incident, Fry had gone 0-for-3, continuing what has been a tough season for him at the plate. He is hitting just .171 this year with 8 home runs and 23 RBIs, a big drop from his 2024 All-Star season when he batted .263 with 14 homers.
Despite the injury, the Guardians pulled off a 5-2 win over the Tigers. Cleveland trailed 2-1 before rallying in the sixth inning, capitalizing on a Skubal balk and an RBI groundout from Gabriel Arias to take the lead. The bullpen handled the rest to secure the win.
With Tuesday’s win, the Guardians are now tied with the Tigers for the AL Central lead. It’s an incredible turnaround considering that at one point in August, they trailed Detroit by 12.5 games. Both teams will continue the series on Wednesday. As for David Fry, it’s unclear when he will return.
