Bregman struck by a foul ball on deck; hospital tests are pending.

Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman was taken to a Cincinnati hospital for testing Sunday after a foul ball struck him below the left eye while he waited near the on-deck circle. X-rays and CT scans were planned; Chicago had not announced the results when this update was published.

Michael Busch checked his swing against Reds right-hander Luis Mey in the fourth inning. The foul ball reached Bregman before he could get clear. He covered the left side of his face, went directly toward the dugout and was replaced by Matt Shaw.

A frightening accident

Manager Craig Counsell said Bregman had swelling near the left cheekbone, a cut and some bleeding from his nose. The immediate concern was Bregman's general well-being, not a postseason roster projection.

Bregman had singled, walked, driven in a run and scored before leaving. The Cubs completed a 9–1 victory, but the result did not answer whether he would travel back to Chicago with the team.

No timetable without the tests

The location of the impact and the hospital testing make this a significant injury update. They do not support guessing at a fracture, concussion or recovery period. The next reliable information should come from the Cubs after the imaging is reviewed.

For now, the accurate headline is limited and unsettling: Bregman was struck in the face, removed from the game and sent for tests. The diagnosis remains pending.