Mariners Kirby Injury: Leaves Game After Liner to Face
- — Mariners right-hander George Kirby's start against the Baltimore Orioles ended abruptly Tuesday night when a line drive struck his right thumb and mouth.
- Kirby,27,faced Orioles third baseman Ramon urias with two outs when Urias sent a fastball back up the middle.
- Despite the impact, kirby said he felt "pretty good" after the game.
Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby’s outing against the baltimore Orioles took a frightening turn when a line drive struck his face, forcing an early exit. The incident, occurring in the fifth inning, saw the right-hander instantly leave the field.Despite the impact to his right thumb and mouth, Kirby reported feeling relatively well, noting some swelling but no major pain. Manager Dan Wilson described the moment as “scary” but expressed confidence in Kirby’s crucial role and future performance, highlighting his resilience after a recent return from a shoulder injury. Kirby is scheduled for X-rays, and the team awaits further injury updates. News Directory 3 continues to bring you the latest on this developing story. Discover what’s next for the Mariners’ star pitcher.
Kirby Exits Early After Being Struck by Line Drive
Updated June 4, 2025
Seattle, Wash. — Mariners right-hander George Kirby’s start against the Baltimore Orioles ended abruptly Tuesday night when a line drive struck his right thumb and mouth. The incident occurred in the fifth inning of the 5-1 loss.
Kirby,27,faced Orioles third baseman Ramon urias with two outs when Urias sent a fastball back up the middle. The ball connected with Kirby’s face, causing him to leave the field with blood visible. He had thrown 95 pitches.
Despite the impact, kirby said he felt “pretty good” after the game. He noted some swelling but no significant pain. “I didn’t even see it coming,” Kirby said. “Just put my hand up. So, just glad it kind of missed any of the bad spots on my face.”
Mariners manager Dan Wilson described the moment as “scary.” The team’s training staff immediately attended to Kirby.”It’s just so close and you just hope for the best,” Wilson said. “It looked like he was a little surprised by it all, even as he was walking off.”
Kirby’s season start was delayed until late May due to shoulder inflammation. Before his exit, he pitched five innings, allowing two runs. Eduard Bazardo replaced him in the sixth.
“I feel great right now,” Kirby said, adding that he was pleased with his performance despite the high pitch count. Wilson echoed this sentiment, expressing confidence in Kirby’s ability to bounce back, emphasizing his role on the team.
What’s next
Kirby is scheduled for X-rays Wednesday. The team expects to learn more about the extent of any injuries then. Wilson remains optimistic that this is just a “bump in the road” for the competitor.