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That's not the final image Seattle Mariners fans wanted to see of Felix Hernandez in 2011.
Thankfully, though, the story it appears to tell isn't nearly as bad as the reality.
Hernandez was forced to leave his final scheduled start of the season on Saturday after he was struck directly on his right forearm by Michael Young's line drive come backer. It sounded bad, it looked bad, and judging from the looks of anguish on Felix's face immediately after, it didn't feel good either.
Hernandez was immediately taken to the clubhouse for x-rays. Moments later, a collective sigh of relief could be heard all the way from Arlington to Alaska as those x-rays revealed no broken bones. Despite that, Hernandez still had his arm wrapped in a cast after the game, but the official diagnosis is only a bruise.
Of course it's probably a pretty significant bruise. One that would likely cost him a start or two under normal circumstances. But all things considered, very positive news for Hernandez, the Mariners, and even a concerned Michael Young, who contacted Felix after the game.
"I called him; he said he's fine," Young said. "I've had a lot of at-bats against Felix. I have a lot of respect for him. I thought seeing how he was doing was the right thing to do, and he said he's fine."
Classy move.
Hernandez would also comment on the scary incident after the game, and was feeling good enough to inject a little humor.
Said Hernandez: "That was scary. Nothing's broke. I was trying to catch (the ball). I've been hit before, but not in my arm. It hurt! They were hitting pretty good pitches. They were finding a lot of holes. Then they found me."
As Hernandez mentioned, things weren't going particularly well prior to his fourth inning exit. He had already allowed a season-high 12 hits, and Young was the seventh straight Ranger to reach base in what amounted to be a six-run Texas Rangers rally. Hernandez was changed with all six runs and would remain on the hook in Seattle's 7-3 loss.
Not an ideal way for King Felix's season to end on several levels, but at least Seattle knows his offseason throwing program will not be hampered in any way, and he'll be good to go for spring training.
Hold on a second.
This just in to Big League Stew: Seattle has also ruled Larry Bernandez out for the rest of the season.*More on that story as it develops.
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