Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki was hit in the side of his head by a swinging bat and had to leave Sunday’s 4-1 win against the Padres.
Suzuki stayed down for a couple minutes after being struck by Raffy Lopez’s backswing. Lopez struck out on that swing to end the Padres’ half-inning.
Suzuki was removed as a precaution and is day-to-day, according to the team.
“I’ve never been hit with a backswing like that in 12 seasons,” Suzuki said. “First time getting hit right there. It was pretty brutal. It’s got a lump or whatever.”
Suzuki walked off on his own power. He met with trainers in the bottom of the inning before being replaced in the third inning.
Lopez walked away after seeing Suzuki down, prompting visible displeasure from third base coach Ron Washington and others in the Braves dugout.
“It is what it is,” Suzuki said. “It was pretty cool you have guys like Wash, a bunch of the guys pretty upset. That’s a pretty cool thing.”
Snitker said Padres manager Andy Green apologized, and if Lopez had a redo, it’d probably be different.
“I’m glad he feels good,” Snitker said of Suzuki. “I’m glad it’s nothing serious.”
The umpire warned both teams before the third inning.
Tyler Flowers replaced Suzuki at catcher. He went on to collect two hits, including a two-run homer in the eighth that put the Braves ahead 4-1.
