We've seen it way too often recently — pitchers being hit directly in the head by screaming line drives. The A's Brandon McCarthy nearly lost his life after he was hit last year and required emergency brain surgery to save it. J.A. Happ of the Blue Jays and Alex Cobb of the Rays were both knocked nearly unconscious after comeback-liners drilled them right in the head this season. Daniel Norris of the Lansing Lugnuts (Class A Blue Jays affiliate) was way more fortunate.
This is video of Norris pitching to West Michigan Whitecaps pitcher Chad Smith. Smith hits an incredibly hard liner right back at Norris, who then makes an incredible cat-like reflex play to keep the ball from shredding his face. You can tell that everyone's heart stops — including Smith, a fellow pitcher — until they realize Norris is alright.
The video has nearly five million views in just under a week. The Lugnuts won the game 2-1.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to the channel's Facebook page.
