Padres batter hit in face with 97 mph pitch — and stays in the game

Jake Cronenworth took a 97-mile-per-hour pitch to the face and didn’t leave.

The San Diego Padres infielder was up to bat against Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi with a man on second in the top of the fifth inning when a 97-mph fastball struck him in the cheek.

Cronenworth, luckily, wasn’t hit dead on and didn’t even come out of the game, taking a second to gather himself before heading to first base.

Still, it was a pretty frightening experience for those in attendance.

Cronenworth finished the game 1-for-1 with two walks and an RBI.

Cronenworth is a two-time All-Star from his seasons in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

Logan O’Hoppe (14) of the Los Angeles Angels gets out of the way as Jake Cronenworth (9) of the San Diego Padres falls after he was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 18, 2026, in Anaheim, California. Getty Images

The Padres later won the game 4-1, improving to 14-7 this season, and are just 1.5 games behind the Dodgers in the National League West, who are 15-5 to start the year.

Cronenworth is only hitting .152 this season, but the 32-year-old infielder remains a fixture on the Padres roster in his seventh full season with the team.

San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth (9) goes down after being hit by a pitch in the face while Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe (14) dives for the ball during an MLB baseball game played on April 18, 2026, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Though the Padres haven’t won the NL West since 2006, the team has been to the playoffs four times in six years, reaching the NLCS in 2022 and the NLDS in 2020 and 2024.

The team has also just had one losing season during that timeframe, making them one of the more successful National League teams in recent years despite their lack of deep playoff trips.