Padres Pitcher Cole Paplham Injured by 102 MPH Line Drive

Cole Paplham, a pitcher for the San Diego Padres, suffered a serious injury during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he was struck in the face by a 102.4 mph line drive off the bat of Aaron Bracho. Although Paplham remained conscious and alert, he experienced considerable pain and was taken off the field on a medical cart after a brief delay due to cart issues. Padres manager Mike Shildt expressed concern for Paplham, who has faced injury challenges in the past. The incident follows another recent injury where Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller was also hit by a line drive and is currently in concussion protocol, raising concerns about pitcher safety in the league. The back-to-back incidents have prompted calls from fans for Major League Baseball to consider mandatory head protection for pitchers. Paplham, a 24-year-old rising star, has previously shown promise, posting a 3.60 ERA in the 2023 season.