GIRL’S INJURY STILL WEIGHS ON ALMORA
When Cubs center fielder Albert Almora Jr. saw reports earlier this month that the little girl who was hit by his foul ball in Houston last May has a permanent brain injury, his heart sank.
“Obviously, my prayers go out to the family,” Almora said Friday at the Cubs Convention. “And it’s unfortunate. Like I said before, that should never happen on a baseball field.”
After being struck in the head May 29 at Minute Maid Park, the 2-year-old was rushed to the hospital. She suffered a skull fracture, a subdural bleed, brain swelling and seizures.
Eight months later, the family’s attorney said the girl could possibly be on medication for the rest of her life as a result of the accident, according to multiple reports.
Almora was visibly distraught when he realized his foul ball hit the girl, sinking to one knee and cradling his head in his hand. Later in the game, after he got more information from fans near the seating area, he became emotional and was consoled by a security guard.
“I’m not gonna lie — it weighed on me for the first couple days,” Almora said. “But after that I . . . had no other choice [but] to move forward but always have that in the back of my mind.
“Every update that comes out, I am there and I am seeing all this. But like I said, there’s nothing much [I can do].”
Almora said he has “tried everything” to be in contact with the family but is respecting their request for privacy.
“I’m always here,” he said. “I just hope she has a long, prosperous life, and that’s all I desire as a father. And not even being in the position I’m in — just anybody. Anybody, I’d wish the same thing.”
The incident was one of several last season in which spectators were injured by foul balls. As a result, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced last month that every team must extend its protective netting down the lines to the foul poles for the 2020 season.
“If MLB is doing something, it’s because it had to be done,” Almora said. “I’m picturing myself being a father and taking my kids to a normal baseball game. There’s no reason to have to even think about my sons being injured.”
Waiting game on grievance
Team president Theo Epstein said he doesn’t know when a decision will eventually be rendered in third baseman Kris Bryant’s grievance over alleged manipulation of his service time in 2015. But he downplayed the impact the delay might have on the Cubs’ plans this winter.
“I think it’s important to respect the process,” Epstein said. “It’s a significant case for the industry. There’s a lot riding on it. And it’s important to Kris, obviously.
“I’m not going to sit here and complain about it. I understand the union and MLB come together on issues from time to time and have to have the matter arbitrated. It’s out of our control . . . . Whenever it happens, it happens, and we’ll proceed accordingly.”
BUSINESS DURING CONVENTION
The Cubs acquired right-handed reliever Casey Sadler from the Dodgers on Friday in a trade for minor-league infielder
Clayton Daniel.
Sadler, who missed all of the 2016 season because of Tommy John surgery, has a 3.55 ERA in 42 career big-league appearances since 2014 (all but two in relief ). He was 4-0 with a 2.14 ERA in 33 games (including a start) for the Rays and Dodgers in 2019.
The Cubs also signed veteran Josh Phegley, a former White Sox catcher, to a minor-league deal. Phegley, 31, spent the last five seasons with the Athletics. He is expected to be invited to big-league camp. ✶