Orioles' Blaze Alexander fractures hand when hit by pitch vs. Royals

Baltimore utility player Blaze Alexander sustained a non-displaced fracture in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said.

Both benches cleared in the seventh inning after Alexander was hit by a 95-mph fastball from Royals right-hander Lucas Erceg, who said after the Orioles' 8-2 victory that hitting him with the inside pitch, the seventh in the at-bat, was not intentional.

Imaging revealed the fracture and Alexander, 27, will meet with a doctor during the All-Star break this week, Albernaz said.

"You know it hurts, but he has a good attitude about it," Albernaz said. "Blaze will be around and see where he's at rehab-wise and go from there."

While there is no timetable yet for Alexander's return, Albernaz called the team losing this player "definitely a gut punch." Alexander was not made available to media after the game.

Alexander played third base on Sunday and went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a walk before his injury. He raised his batting average to a team-leading .312 with a .368 on-base percentage and .439 slugging percentage. He has four home runs and 29 RBIs in 82 games.

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Alexander in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Draft and traded him to Baltimore in February for rookie right-hander Kade Strowd and two minor leaguers.

The versatile Alexander has started at third base (34 games), second base (11), shortstop (seven), center field (six), left field (four) and right field (two) this season.

--Field Level Media