Detroit — After the game Wednesday, outfielder James Outman informally talked about the 94-mph fastball from Guardians lefty Erik Sabrowski that clipped him on the chin in the seventh inning.
He had a glazed look on his face and wasn’t exactly clear on whether the pitch deflected off his shoulder first. He was just glad it didn’t hit him flush.
Turns out, there was damage.
The Tigers before the game Thursday put Outman on the seven-day concussion protocol.
“I asked (Guardians catcher Austin) Hedges on the way by where the pitch actually hit him,” manager AJ Hinch said. “Hedges said it ricocheted and hit him in the chin. But it probably feels like he got sucker punched.
“When I got out there, he was immediately trying to get ready to go to first.”
Outman stayed in the game but concussion symptoms presented themselves later in the night and on Thursday.
Switch-hitting utility man Trei Cruz was called up from Triple-A Toledo, who had been slashing .359/.400/.434 with a .834 OPS in his last 13 games (60 plate appearances) in Triple-A. He went hitless in five at-bats in a brief stint with the Tigers earlier this season.
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers place James Outman on concussion list after being hit by pitch