Happ seemed to get worst of collision, but hasn't gone on IL
Ian Happ seemed to get the worst of Sunday's outfield collision with Nico Hoerner. After all, Happ was carted off the field, while Hoerner stayed in the game.
But on Tuesday, Hoerner was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left forearm strain. Happ was not in the lineup for Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Dodgers, but did not go on the injured list.
The two players were chasing a pop up in short center field at Cincinnati. Hoerner caught the ball, but in the process kneed Happ in the ribs and hit him in the face with his arm. Happ stayed on a ground shaken up for a couple of minutes and appeared to have a bloody nose when he left the field.
"I was pretty stressed in the outfield not knowing what condition he was in," Hoerner said Tuesday. "Pretty shaken up seeing a friend leave the field like that, doesn't feel good at all. So when I could go back to the locker room and see him and he was in good spirits and stuff, that definitely made me feel good because that was probably the scariest baseball play I've been a part of."
Hoerner said he didn't feel too bad after the game, but didn't even attempt any baseball activities Monday before the decision was made to go on the injured list. He also thinks he'll be ready to play again as soon as the 10 days are up.
When Cubs manager David Ross spoke to reporters before Game 1, he wasn't sure if Happ would be available to play Tuesday.
"He took a pretty good blow to the ribs from Nico," Ross said. "I believe we're calling it a rib contusion. He's pretty sore, Nico kicked him pretty hard in the ribs if you watch the replay. All of his concussion stuff has come back A-OK. That was my No. 1 concern from some of my history. Talking to him, his head seems to be fine."
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