Rangers’ Luke Jackson hit in hand by a pitch against Rockies

ARLINGTON, Texas — In a tense game against the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, Texas Rangers closer Luke Jackson faced an unexpected challenge when he was struck by a fierce 111-mph line drive on his pitching hand. This incident occurred on the very first pitch he delivered in the ninth inning. The Rangers, however, managed to secure a 2-1 victory.
The painful incident prompted Rangers manager Bruce Bochy to provide an update, revealing that while X-rays showed no fractures, Jackson’s right hand had become quite swollen. A stint on the injured list seemed like a possible outcome, although further assessments were expected the following day.
Ryan McMahon was the batter who connected with the pitch that sent the ball hurtling back towards Jackson. As the ball ricocheted off Jackson’s hand, it briefly ascended before landing on the ground, resulting in an infield single. Jackson’s time on the field was cut short as Bochy and athletic trainer Matt Lucero quickly emerged from the dugout to evaluate the situation.
“We’ll see how he responds. But that thing blew up right away, so we do have some concern,” Bochy commented.
Rangers starting pitcher Tyler Mahle, who had thrown 6 1/3 innings and secured the win, reflected on the danger pitchers face at such close range. “I mean 60 feet away is not that far, especially when those guys can hit as hard as they can,” he noted. “He was just out there trying to do what he does, and then something crappy like that happens. It just sucks.”
Meanwhile, the Rangers contended with another setback as shortstop Corey Seager remained absent from the lineup for the fourth time in five games due to persistent hamstring soreness. Seager had shown promise on Saturday, hitting two home runs, the only game he had played during that period. Prior to the game, Bochy hinted at a potential pregame roster move regarding Seager, but ultimately, no change was made. Seager had previously missed 10 games while on the injured list because of a right hamstring strain. When asked about Seager’s status after the game, Bochy remarked, “No, no. We’ll know more tomorrow.”
The ninth inning took a dramatic turn when Brenton Doyle’s hard line drive was expertly caught by Chris Martin, a towering 6-foot-8 reliever for the Rangers, as he went down on one knee to make the play. Following Jackson’s exit, Jacob Webb stepped in, inheriting eight saves out of nine opportunities this season, and faced immediate pressure with the bases loaded.
Michael Toglia singled and Sean Bouchard drew a four-pitch walk, culminating in a precarious situation with the bases full. The tension, however, was relieved when Kyle Farmer’s chopper to third baseman Josh Jung initiated a game-ending double play. Jung adeptly stepped on third base and fired the ball across to first to complete the play.
Bochy reflected on Webb’s performance, acknowledging the brief four-pitch lapse but praising his ability to deliver when it counted most. “That walk put him in a jam there,” Bochy said. “He lost it there for four pitches, but then made a pitch when he had to to get the big double play.”