White Sox Pitcher Ejected After Hitting All-Star Rookie in the Head

Chicago White Sox pitcher Davis Martin was ejected from Thursday's game against the Cincinnati Reds after hitting All-Star rookie Sal Stewart in the head. Stewart, a 22-year-old with a stellar season, had already hit a solo home run off Martin in the first inning. The incident occurred when Stewart protested a pitch that he found particularly frustrating.

Martin threw a fastball well above Stewart's head, which the rookie did not appreciate. Upon the third pitch, Martin struck Stewart's helmet, leading to a verbal exchange between the two. The benches and bullpens cleared to separate the players, causing a brief delay in the game. While the teams were on the field, Martin was tossed from the game before the start of the next at-bat.

Stewart remained in the game and even scored on a sacrifice fly three batters later. This year has been remarkable for Stewart, who has hit 26 home runs and batted .817 with 89 RBIs in 119 games. Despite the White Sox currently being five games under .500, Stewart's impact could be crucial for the team's postseason hopes. The Reds, with their star rookie, are also still in contention for a postseason spot.