Willy Adames released from hospital after hit in head by foul ball

Adam McCalvy

MILWAUKEE -- Brewers shortstop Willy Adames was resting at home after being discharged from the hospital Saturday morning, where he’d remained overnight after being struck in the head by a foul ball during the Brewers’ loss to the Giants on Friday.

The team placed Adames on the 7-day concussion IL and recalled infielder Andruw Monasterio, who has spent parts of nine years in the Minor Leagues. Rookie Brice Turang will be the Brewers’ primary shortstop during Adames’ absence.

"All the news has been good," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said after talking via telephone with Adames. "He's in very good spirits. Everything checked out well medically. So now it's just today, especially, a day of recovery."

Adames was leaning against the dugout railing when he was struck by Brian Anderson's foul ball in the second inning. He stumbled down the steps to the bench and received immediate care, then retreated the dugout and was transported to the hospital for X-rays and a CT scan. By the end of the 15-1 loss to the Giants, Counsell and the Brewers were relieved to learn that Adames had not suffered any fractures.

By Saturday morning, Adames was doing well, according to a source who’d been in regular contact with him overnight. Adames will continue resting at home while the Brewers travel to Toronto from Tuesday to Thursday, but he could rejoin the team as soon as Friday in Cincinnati.

"It was a scary situation there. I think I still haven't really processed it all the way through," said Anderson, who finished his at-bat with tears in his eyes following the incident. "The main thing is just concern for Willy, about his health and hoping he's doing good. I was able to talk to him last night and it seemed like he was doing well. I think he was actually in better spirits than I was last night. He kept telling me, ‘Don't worry about me, don't worry about me.’

"He's a tough guy and we’re going to miss having him for a couple of days. Hopefully it will be not long. It's just a scary situation, something that you never think of happening and you hope never happens again."

The Brewers were clearly affected by the scary moment. They committed two errors while the Giants put up seven runs in the top of the third inning against Freddy Peralta, who didn't make it through the frame. Peralta and Adames have lockers next to each other and are close friends.

Everyone was rattled, Anderson said.

"I’ll be honest, I feel like I’m one of the more -- I’m really locked in when I play baseball," Anderson said. "It was hard after that. You really realize that this is just a game when you have something like a baseball flying at your head that can take you out. It was just kind of shocking and surreal. I’m just hoping and praying for a quick recovery for Willy and we’re going to get through this."

Anderson's concern was evident when he hustled up the tunnel to the clubhouse after grounding out. Adames was being checked out by medical officials at the time, and by the time Anderson ran back in following the next half-inning, Adames was already on his way to the hospital.

After they communicated later that night, Anderson's concern was eased.

"His mood and how he was able to tell me to relax, 'It's fine,'" Anderson said, "that definitely helped me out a lot."