Alex Cobb Hit In Head By Line Drive

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Alex Cobb was taken off the field on a stretcher after he was hit on the right ear by a liner off the bat of Kansas City's Eric Hosmer in the fifth inning of Saturday's game. Cobb put a hand on his head after being struck. Trainers from both teams and other medical staff immediately ran onto the field. Cobb could be seen kicking his legs while being examined on the mound. The Rays announced that Cobb remained conscious the whole time and was taken to Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg for further examination.Cobb, who was drafted out of high school by the Rays in the fourth round back in 2006, cracked the majors in 2011 and had made 44 starts for the franchise before his Saturday afternoon outing. After delivering the pitch, Cobb had no time to react as the ball was scorched off Hosmer's bat. The ball ricocheted off Cobb's head and back to catcher Jose Lobaton, who fired to first to complete the out.In the aftermath we've also learned one other piece of information that was really very cool. According to multiple reports at the ballpark, the entire Rays starting rotation along with former teammate James Shields, who now pitches for Kansas City, met Cobb in the tunnel to wish him well before he was loaded into the ambulance. That was really very cool of all of them, and I think it shows you the strength of solidarity that not only goes along with sharing a clubhouse in the big leagues, but to a certain extent I think it shows there's an even stronger bond shared by pitchers. No one understands the pressures and dangers of their job quite like another pitcher would, so it's only natural they stick together.