Kevin Pillar
Kevin Pillar of the New York Mets is hit by a pitch in the seventh inning of an MLB game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on May 17, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
  • Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar was hit in the face with the bases loaded against the Braves.
  • The pitch forced in a key run, but caused Pillar to collapse with blood running down his face.
  • Pillar was rushed to the hospital, but still celebrated his big RBI on Twitter after the game.
  • Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

New York Mets outfielder Kevin Pillar took a 94-mile-per-hour fastball from Atlanta Braves pitcher Jacob Webb to the face at Truist Park on Monday night.

The pitch caused Pillar to collapse to the ground, blood pouring from his face, in a scary moment for the Mets. However, it also went a long way in helping them secure a win and breaking a three-game losing streak.

The pitch to Pillar's face came with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the seventh, as the Mets held on to a 1-0 lead. The hit-by-pitch forced in a second Mets run, which ended up helping them pull away from Atlanta in the later innings. They eventually won the game 3-1.

Pillar was rushed to the hospital immidiately after getting hit to get a CT scan, but after the game he sent a tweet assuring fans that he was doing fine, and even celebrated getting a run batted in (RBI).

"Thanks to everyone that has reached out! Scary moment but I'm doing fine!" – Pillar wrote, accompanying his tweet with the hashtags #RBI and #gamewinner.

Mets manager Luis Rojas commended Pillar's toughness in the postgame press conference.

"This guy is a warrior," Rojas said.

"He shows up every day to play hard, and you saw him. He got up on his feet and left. There's no chance I thought he was going to be able to do that after I saw where the ball hit him in the face. He got up and he left. That's at least one positive to see."

Atlanta Braves catcher Jeff Mathis said after the game that Webb felt "terrible" about hitting Pillar.

"Nobody in the ballpark thought he was trying to do that on purpose, he felt terrible, it was nothing he was trying to do," Mathis said. "It is a part of baseball and as much as it stinks all we can do is hope that he's okay and move on."

Pillar suffered multiple nasal fractures from the hit, and will meet with a facial specialist in Atlanta to determine the next course of action, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

Philadelphia Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper took a 97-mph fastball to the face earlier this season by St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Génesis Cabrera, but was able to avoid serious damage as it hit the side of his cheek, as opposed to Pillar who was hit square in the nose.

Harper returned to the field less than a week after the hit, but Pillar is expected to miss extended time.

Pillar might prove to be luckier than New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton though.

Stanton was hit in the face with an 88-mph fastball in 2014 during a game for the Miami Marlins in 2014. Stanton suffered multiple fractures and a facial laceration and required seven surgeries, including two corneal transplants.

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