Toronto Blue Jays pitcher and ex-Yankees reliever Chad Green can’t catch a break after his catcher’s would-be throw to second base hit him in the back of the head on Tuesday during a minor-league rehab appearance.
In the bottom of the fifth inning while pitching for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, Worcester Red Sox shortstop Ryan Fitzgerald took off from first base to steal second when Green delivered the pitch home.
However Green didn’t crouch low enough on his follow through and catcher Tyler Heineman’s throw to second drilled the pitcher in the head.
While the Bisons reacted to Green getting plunked, an alert Fitzgerald swiftly took third base before time was called.
Fitzgerald swiftly took third base while all eyes were on Green.
Green was in obvious pain on the mound but stayed on his feet throughout while the trainers took him off the field for further evaluation.
Green currently is on a rehab assignment attempting to return from Tommy John surgery and was said to be close to making his Blue Jays debut.
No word on whether Tuesday’s setback will delay his Toronto arrival.
The good news is Green was able to walk off the field under his own power.
His final line for the night: 0.2 innings pitched with one hit allowed.
It was Green’s third rehab appearance with Buffalo, during which he has tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
As for the game itself, Worcester squeezed out a 10-9 win.
Green spent each of his first seven big-league seasons with the Yankees, posting an impressive 3.17 ERA in 272 appearances, including 24 starts.
The Yankees acquired Green in the 2015 trade with the Detroit Tigers which also brought Luis Cessa to The Bronx and sent Justin Wilson to Motown.
Green had Tommy John surgery in June 2022 and left the Yankees as a free agent in January 2023, agreeing to a two-year, $8.5 million contract with the Blue Jays.
If he’s able to complete his rehab, Green is expected to serve in a middle-relief role for Toronto behind newly-acquired reliever Jordan Hicks and closer Jordan Romano, who’s been on the injured list since July 29 with back inflammation.
Green is expected to serve in a middle-relief role if and when he returns.
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