GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman, awake and alert Thursday morning after being hit in the face, suffered a mild concussion and is undergoing surgery Thursday to replace a broken bone above his left eye, and is expected to be sidelined six to eight weeks, Reds team physician Timothy Kremchek said.
Chapman will have a permanent titanium plate, and perhaps a bone graft, to repair the broken bone, but otherwise, Kremchek said that Chapman should be fine.
"Right now, he's a very lucky guy,'' Kremchek said. "He's awake and alert and knows what's going on. There's no other brain injuries. Hopefully, a couple of weeks he can start exercising, and start throwing. And hopefully, be back in six to eight weeks.
"The problem is you don't want to get him back to contact as a pitcher too soon.''
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When asked if he would definitely pitch again this season, Kremchek didn't hesitate.
"Absolutely,'' he said.
Chapman does not appear to have any eye problems, or brain problem, Kremchek said.
"Obviously, it hit him in the right spot,'' Kremchek said. "There was nothing major or nothing vital getting injured. So hopefully, we get him on the road to recover.''
The Reds players and coaching staff visited with Chapman at the hospital, and he was joking Thursday morning with Reds catcher Brayan Pena.
"He said he should have thrown a slower fastball,'' Pena said. "He was laughing and joking.''
Chapman was hit in the face and carted off the field Wednesday night when he was struck by Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez's line drive with to outs in the six inning. He immediately crumbled to the ground, flailing his legs, while lying face down. The umpiring crew immediately called off the rest of the game.
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