Alex Cobb taken off field on stretcher after being hit in head by Eric Hosmer line drive

On Saturday afternoon at Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Alex Cobb was struck on the right side of his head — possibly around or directly on the ear as seen in the cringeworthy replays — by a sizzling line drive off the bat of Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer.

The scary incident happened in the fifth inning with Tampa Bay leading the game 3-2. After being struck, Cobb went directly to the ground holding his head tightly with both arms, but showed little movement otherwise in the immediate aftermath aside from occasionally kicking his legs. A stretcher was immediately summoned to the field, but the athletic trainers and paramedics on scene took every precaution imaginable in stabilizing Cobb before wheeling him off the field through a gate behind home plate.

According to Todd Kalas on the Rays television broadcast, Cobb never lost consciousness on the field, which is good news. He also reported that Cobb had been transported to the Bayfront Medical Center where he'll undergo further testing to determine his condition.

As soon as we hear more, we'll provide an update.

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