Braves' Heyward takes a jaw-breaking pitch to the face, undergoes surgery

Atlanta Braves' right fielder Jason Heyward suffered a devastating injury Wednesday when a 90 mph fastball struck him in the face. 

 

After taking the pitch to the right side of his face, Heyward remained on the ground for several minutes while he was tended to by Braves trainer Jeff Porter. Heyward reportedly never lost consciousness and eventually left the field on his own. He was evaluated by doctors at the field before being transported to a Manhattan-area hospital.

 

After medical examination, X-rays revealed Heyward's jaw to be fractured in two places. He had surgery in Atlanta today in which doctors placed two metal plates over each fracture.

 

Though it's possible that the incident will put Heyward out for the remainder of the season, it is estimated that it will take him a minimum of 4 weeks to get back on the field.

 

Heyward's jaw fracture is the second major injury occurring at Citi Field in recent weeks. The other happened when Tim Hudson fell victim to an ankle fracture while covering first base.

 

Heyward's injury adds him to a list of six other Braves who have suffered serious injuries within the current season. His absence is expected to have a very negative impact on the team's overall performance.