White with multiple fractures to the face

Pitcher Lázaro Blanco was hit by a ball off the bat of Henry Urrutia and suffered multiple fractures to his face that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the 2022-23 Dominican winter baseball season.

The action in question occurred in the bottom of the sixth inning of the game between Estrellas Orientales and Gigantes del Cibao on Tuesday night.

According to a statement issued by the Leona Sports agency, to which both Blanco and Urrutia belong, the Cuban pitcher was hit by a line drive from his compatriot and will require surgery on the cheekbone area and will not be able to finish the season with the Estrellas.

The statement also informed that Blanco “is recovering in the hospital surrounded by friends and loved ones” and that they expect him to make a full recovery.

The Estrellas Orientales reported that the Cuban pitcher suffered multiple fractures in his face (maxilla and zygomatic bone) as a result of the hit and that he received emergency treatment at a center in San Francisco de Macorís, home city of the Gigantes del Cibao, and that today he will be transferred to a health center in La Romana, a city adjacent to San Pedro de Macorís, home of the green team.

Urrutia, a compatriot and client of the same agency, left the game to be by Lázaro’s side after the incident. The Gigantes del Cibao starter and designated hitter has just won the MVP of the Week award for his outstanding offensive performance.

Blanco had pitched in four games, three of them as a starter, in the current LIDOM season leaving a 0-1 record with an ERA of 5.91 and a WHIP of 1.88 in 10 innings and two thirds of work.

The Cuban conceded 15 hits, 7 clean runs, 5 tickets and struck out 5 opponents allowing a .326 batting average to the opposition.