The first pitch of Johnny Cueto’s night Monday against the A's rocketed back to the mound and hit the Giants pitcher in the side of the head. He eventually was diagnosed with a bruise after staying in the game and pitching three innings.
Bien valiente @JohnnyCueto al seguir en acción tras fuerte roletazo a la cabeza. Detalles: https://t.co/QJntx2AVqhhttps://t.co/nkXDl7WvCh
— LasMayores (@LasMayores) March 15, 2016
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So with the bump on Cueto’s head still fresh, MLB plans to discuss its new protective “half-cap” meant to prevent injury to pitchers in similar situations, ESPN.com reported.
The cap, a helmet-cap hybrid, has a carbon-fiber shell that wraps around a pitcher's forehead and ears. It essentially looks like a batting helmet with the top cut off. Twenty pitchers were given the cap to test out during spring training.
Pittsburgh #Pirates Jared Hughes shows off the new model of the in-game pitchers helmet earlier today #MLB pic.twitter.com/syStMfw3w5
— Chris Creamer (@sportslogosnet) February 21, 2016
"We feel like we've had a successful rollout," said Patrick Houlihan, MLB vice president and deputy general counsel for labor relations. "Any pitcher is free to have the product made specifically for him, and we've had some new requests for the product."
Houlihan told ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” that some pitchers who received the cap have asked for modifications, but he’s unsure if any will wear the cap during the regular season.