I was in the dugout when Buster got hit by the pitch on Opening Day. That sound of the ball hitting the helmet stays in your ears for a while. I doubt there’s a player in the big leagues who hasn’t been hit in the head by a pitch. There’s no scarier experience in baseball. Your stomach kind of flips when you hear that thwack, because you’ve been there.

It brought back memories from college. I might have already told you this story. It was the first game of the regionals. I don’t remember the ball hitting my helmet. I just remember people trying to help me off the ground. There was blood dripping from my right ear. I found out later, when I watched the video, that I cut myself when I threw off my helmet, which I don’t remember doing or why I did it. I couldn’t walk off the field under my own power, and I had to go to the hospital to get stitches in my ear. I had a terrible headache. When I left the hospital, I remember having to watch my feet take each step because I thought I was going to fall down. The doctor told me I had a very mild concussion.

I played the next day. Crazy, right? But this was the regionals. I wanted to play. The game went 25 innings! I played all 25. Eight hours. It was the longest one in NCAA post-season history. I think I had a headache the whole time. I went to bat 12 times. I got one hit. It was bad. We played about 10 more games, all the way through the College World Series and there are really big games — walk-off wins — that I don’t even remember.

Luckily there is a strict protocol now when guys get concussions. And the helmets now are so much better than even just a couple years ago. I’m glad Buster is taking time off. Everybody’s concussion is different. A couple days can go by and the symptoms start hitting you hard. Or you’re fine. Buster’s in good hands. Everybody’s hoping he’ll be healthy soon but he should take the time he needs to make sure he won’t have symptoms lingering all season. We have a strong enough team, and such great chemistry, that we’ll get through until he’s back.

Thanks for reading. Hope the rain doesn’t fall tonight. Looks like it’s clearing up already. Hope to see you out here!