Mom Says Yuba City Star Max Stassi Recovering After Taking Fastball To Head For Astros
YUBA CITY (CBS13) — A hometown hero hits the majors only to be hit in the face by a pitch in his second game.
You could call it a pitch of bad luck—Yuba City's Max Stassi took a fastball off the shoulder and into his face.
"His helmet went flying off, so I knew it wasn't good."
Racquelle Stassi is max's mom. She was sitting at home last night watching her rookie son play when she saw the blow.
"He's been hit in the head numerous times. But I don't think he's been hit as hard."
The ball flying at 96 miles per hour—a possible career-ending incident—coming just a few days after Max realized his dream.
He got the call that he would be catcher for the Houston Astros. He was playing for a Double-A team in Corpus Christi. That is, of course, after playing on numerous teams in the Yuba-Sutter area, including the Marysville Gold Sox.
"He was just speechless as any kid would be."
But then this.
"I knew they would take him out but I didn't know the extent."
Racquelle would learn her son was headed to the emergency room.
"I was just anxiously waiting for a text message or call from his dad, so it was just a waiting game."
But the game is not quite over yet. Raquelle got the call that max has no apparent broken bones, or concussion, but he still has other tests pending.
Max won't make it to what was going to be his third game. He's on a 7-day disabled list. Racquelle will see him this weekend.
"The Astros will take excellent care of him. I have no doubt of that," she said. "I know he'll be back, he'll be back."
The pitch that hit Stassi came with the bases loaded in Wednesday night's game with the Astros down a run to the Texas Rangers. It counts as Stassi's first major-league RBI.
