Mets' Brandon Nimmo hit in helmet flap by fastball, seems to be OK
New York Mets’ Brandon Nimmo reacts after being hit by a pitch from San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Kyle Harrison during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Citi Field on Friday, May 24, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Brandon Nimmo said “my lips kind of hurt” after he was hit in the helmet flap that covers his face with a 91-mph fastball in the third inning of the Mets’ 8-7 loss to the Giants on Friday night.
Nimmo, who added the flap to his helmet last season, stayed in the game and even stole a base after getting hit. But his immediate reaction, when he appeared to lose his balance, had to be propped up by J.D. Martinez and shook his head several times, led to fears of a concussion.
“It’s kind of like you never know what you’re going to do until you get hit in the face,” Nimmo said with a smile. “That was ol’ Mike Tyson’s thing.”
Nimmo said he was checked out for a possible concussion during and after the game and was cleared.
“They said that it doesn’t mean you don’t wake up tomorrow and have some symptoms or whatever,” he said. “So I’ll be paying attention to it. But for now, I seem fine.”
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
