Angels’ Ward: Being hit in face by pitch from Blue Jays’ Manoah ‘badge of honour’

his injury and recovery plan after being hit in the face by a ball from Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah at Rogers Centre on July 29.

Ward told The Athletic’s Sam Blum that he had three fractures after being hit by the 92 mph pitch: one to his orbital floor immediately below his eye, one above his temple, and one by his jaw. He did not sustain a concussion, and his vision was not impaired.

Ward stated that he had season-ending surgery on August 5, with physicians inserting three plates. Doctors determined his skull was loose, therefore he needed the third.

“Everyone’s story is different,” Ward explained. “I think I’ve figured out why this happened. And I’m able to, at least standing here — I’m hoping that when I walk into the box as things progress, I’ll be able to move past this.

Ward was unable to eat solid foods after the operation and was unable to breathe through his nose due to four-inch splints in each nostril. He’ll have to wait three weeks before he can blow his nose.

Doctors were unable to restore Ward’s nose exactly as it was, thus he has a “banana shape” curve.

“I think it’s kind of good for me to have that too,” Ward, who is now back in Arizona, said. “I don’t want to be reminded of what happened.” But I believe it’s a very cool story. These things happen, and it’s just fine with me.”

Ward stated that following the incident, Manoah waited outside the training room and texted him. He stated that he harbors no ill will.

Manoah, who has had a rough season and is no longer on the major league roster, was taken out of the game immediately following the injury.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Manoah told reporters, “Hopefully, he’s OK.”

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward has detailed the circumstances surrounding his injury and recovery plan after being hit in the face by a pitch from Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah on July 29 at Rogers Centre.

In an interview with Sam Blum of The Athletic, Ward said he suffered three fractures after being hit by the 92 m.p.h. pitch: one to his orbital floor directly below his eye, one by his temple and another by his jaw. He did not have a concussion and his eyesight has not been impacted.

Ward said he underwent season-ending surgery Aug. 5 with doctors inserting three plates. The third was needed, he said, because doctors discovered his skull was loose.

“Everyone’s story is different,” Ward said. “I feel like I’ve come to a reason why this happened. And I’m able to, at least standing right here — I hope when I step in the box as things move forward, (I’m able to) move past this.”

After the operation, Ward could not eat solid foods and could not breathe out of his nose because of four-inch splints in each nostril. He needs to wait three more weeks before he’s allowed to blow his nose.

Ward said doctors could not reconstruct his nose exactly how it was, so he has a “banana shape” curve.

“I think it’s kind of good for me to have that too,” said Ward, who is now back home in Arizona. “Not that I want to be reminded of what happened. But I think it is kind of a cool story. These things happen, and it’s OK with me.”

Ward said Manoah waited outside the training room and texted him after the incident. He said he holds no animosity.

Manoah, who has had a difficult season and is now off the major-league roster, was removed from the game immediately after the injury.

Manoah spoke to reporters about the incident in the immediate aftermath, saying, “Hopefully, he’s OK.”

“I don’t know how it will affect him,” Ward said. “Everyone is going to have a different way of getting past this. I hope he can, and I wish him the best moving forward.”

Ward said he will wear a new C-flap on his batting helmet when he returns.

“(I’ll) try to basically get as comfortable as I can and forget what happened,” said Ward. “Put that in the back of your mind, and let other thoughts take control.”

“I think of this as a badge of honour,” Ward continued. “Not something that’s going to be a detriment or something I’m always going to have in the back of my head. It’s just baseball.

“I am on that list now. I guess it’s kinda cool.”