C.B. Bucknor helped off field by trainers after taking foul ball directly to the face mask

MLB umpire C. B. Bucknor was removed from Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning after taking a foul ball directly off his face mask.

The incident occurred with two outs in the inning and Rays catcher Nick Fortes at the plate. Brewers pitcher tried to strike Fortes out with an inside fastball on a 1-2 count. Fortes swung just under the ball, knocking it directly behind him and slightly up, causing it to collide with Bucknor’s face mask.

https://x. com/TalkinBaseball_/status/2039407488932450619 Bucknor, 63, immediately stumbled to the ground and was tended to by Brewers catcher William Contreras before trainers got out to the field. Bucknor was evaluated by trainers and eventually able to stand up under his own power, but it was determined Bucknor should leave the contest.

He left the field with trainers, though was mostly able to walk on his own. Members of the Brewers’ training staff did assist Bucknor as he walked down into the team’s dugout to leave the contest. The incident came a day after Bucknor was involved in a controversial play call at first base.