Mariners’ Mitch Haniger headed to DL after taking pitch to face

Update: Mariners manager Scott Servais said Mitch Haniger suffered a severely lacerated upper lip that will require plastic surgery. He is headed to the disabled list. A roster move will be announced Sunday; I would anticipate seeing Leonys Martin return to the big club.

A scary moment Saturday afternoon in the Mariners’ game against the Mets as Mitch Haniger fell to the ground after being hit in the face by a Jacob deGrom 95 mph fastball. He stayed down for about a minute as manager Scott Servais and trainers rushed to his aid, towels in hand. He quickly exited the field with a towel held to his face.

One inning later, the team announced Haniger had suffered a mouth contusion, was fully alert and was being taken from the ballpark to another facility for further evaluation.

A terrible moment to see for Haniger, who missed 42 games with a strained oblique earlier in the season and more recently has been dealing with a badly bruised finger after being hit on the hand in Chicago. Guillermo Heredia pinch-ran and stayed in the game playing left field.