The Kansas City Royals’ Seth Lugo took a line drive straight to his forehead off his former New York Mets teammate, Brandon Nimmo. A 107 mph liner hit hard to drop the 225 lbs Lugo to the ground. The Kansas City Royals starter had to leave Wednesday’s game with a big bump on his head. However, what happened next was an example of sportsmanship.

Nimmo rushed to the mound upon covering first base and checked his former teammate. The crowd clapped to support them both.

“My concern, first and foremost, was for him,” Nimmo shared. “When I saw the ball go back, I heard it and saw it glance off him; just all the concern was for him, and just being OK.”

Even after the scary hit, Lugo shared a joke with his old friend before walking off the field.

“Seth Lugo exited the game after taking a line drive off the head from his former Mets teammate, Brandon Nimmo. Nimmo immediately ran over to check on Lugo, and Lugo joked that he’d rather Nimmo just hit a home run next time,” Jomboy Media shared via X.

The Texas Rangers faced the Royals on Wednesday when Nimmo entered the plate in the fourth with one out. Lugo threw an 85 mph pitch that came back straight at him. The ball bounced off Lugo’s head.

Nimmo ran to first base, called for a timeout, and then rushed straight to the mound.

By the time Nimmo got there, the Royals’ head athletic trainer, Kyle Turner, was already checking on the pitcher.

Lugo himself got up and had a few exchanges with Nimmo. As Lugo was walking down to the dugout, it appeared that he was assuring Nimmo that he was OK. Lugo even joked with Nimmo to hit the ball into right field or pull it rather than hit it right back at him on the mound.

Mid-game, the Royals shared some good news.

“Seth Lugo is doing well and will go through the appropriate protocol and testing.”

However, he still has to follow MLB’s strict concussion rules. This means doctors will keep watching him closely. If a player has a concussion, they must go on the 7-day injured list to let their brain heal before playing again.

Lugo was seen with a golf ball-sized swelling on his forehead, confirming a hard hit.

“Very scary,” the Royals manager Matt Quatraro noted. “Especially the way he went down, to me, it looked like he just went flat on his back. But once we got out there, and he was with it and seemed fine … felt a lot better about it, the way he was talking at that point.”

Sadly, the Royals have seen this happen before.

Just three years ago, in 2023, Kansas City pitcher Ryan Yarbrough was hit in the face by a 106 mph line drive. Yarbrough broke several bones in his face and missed two months of playing time.

Lugo and Nimmo played together with the Mets between 2016 and 2022. Lugo then found a home in Kansas City. Last year, he signed a big two-year, $46 million contract extension for the 2026 and 2027 seasons, following his successful stint with the team since 2023 (3-year, $45 million contract). On the other hand, the Mets traded Nimmo to the Rangers this offseason. Teams separated, but the brotherhood remained the same.

Lugo currently stands with a 3.86 ERA and 66 SOs this year and earned a no-decision on Wednesday.

Now, as the Royals are ranked 21st in ERA (4.38), losing Lugo would be a disaster. It would make the task difficult for the Royals’ already battered pitching staff.

The Royals’ pitching staff needs help

Just a week ago, the Royals announced Nick Mearson’s 15-day IL for a right shoulder impingement. He joined the long list, including Carlos Estévez, Kris Bubic, and Cole Ragans. Now, Lugo might join the list or at least will miss the next few games.

What’s worse is the struggle of the existing names.

Lucas Erceg is currently standing with a 6.29 ERA and has only managed 22 SOs so far. Earlier this month, in a matchup against the Reds, Erceg surrendered a home run in the ninth and took the game to extra innings, only for the Royals to lose 4-3. It was Erceg’s sixth blown save in 17 chances this season.

It only makes the Royals fans hold their breath for Seth Lugo.

“But he was also standing on the mound. He fell straight on his arm, which sucked. But he was in good spirits, which was good. Big knot on his head,” Royals’ first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino noted.

The Royals are at the bottom in the AL Central with a 28-40 record, and with how their pitching staff is performing currently, Lugo’s injury could be the worst to happen for the team.