How serious is Alex Bregman's injury?

That has not been disclosed. The Cubs have released no medical information, so there is no confirmed diagnosis and no indication of how long he might be out.

Will Alex Bregman play in the Cubs' next game?

His availability has not been announced. It depends on an assessment of the injury, and the club has given no timetable for his return.

What is the on-deck circle?

It is the marked area beside the dugout where the next batter waits while the current hitter is at the plate. Bregman was standing there, rather than batting, when the foul ball struck him.

Who were the Cubs playing when Bregman was hit?

The Cincinnati Reds. The game was played on Sunday, and Bregman is reported to have left it after the ball struck his face.

Baseball

Alex Bregman leaves Cubs game after foul ball strikes him in the face

The incident happened while Bregman was waiting to bat rather than in the batter's box, and the Cubs have not yet said how badly he is hurt.

By Sportsback1h ago

Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers September 2025 09 (in-game action)

Michael Barera · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman is reported to have left Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Reds after a foul ball struck him in the face while he was standing in the on-deck circle. The Cubs have not confirmed the incident and have not commented on his condition. Bregman was not at the plate when the ball reached him.

The on-deck circle is where the next batter waits and prepares while the hitter ahead of him is at the plate. A ball that arrives there has come off a bat rather than from the pitcher's hand, which makes the play different in kind from a pitch that hits a batter during an at-bat.

What the Cubs have not said

CINvARI - Joey Votto, John Ryan Murphy (45354771081)

No medical information has been released. There is no confirmed diagnosis, no word on whether Bregman was assessed by the club's medical staff or sent for further tests, and no indication of how long he might be unavailable. The club has also not said whether he walked off or was helped from the field, or how he was treated at the ballpark.

Details around the moment itself are similarly thin. Which inning it was, the score at the time and which batter produced the foul ball have not been established publicly.

Why the third-base picture matters

Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers September 2025 08 (in-game action)

Bregman is the Cubs' starting third baseman, so any absence would push the club to adjust the left side of its infield and, depending on how it shakes out, the batting order ahead of its next game. No lineup has been posted and no roster move has been announced. Until an assessment is complete, the scale of the problem for the Cubs is unknown.

What happens next

The visible steps are an assessment of the injury, a decision on whether Bregman can play, and, if he cannot, a revised infield and lineup. Clubs usually address a player's status before their following game, but no timetable has been offered here and the Reds have said nothing on the matter either.

Reported and unknown

Reported: Bregman left Sunday's game after a foul ball struck him in the face while he was in the on-deck circle.
Unknown: the severity of the injury and whether he required treatment or tests.
Unknown: whether he will be available for the Cubs' next game.
Unknown: whether the club will change its lineup or make a roster move as a result.

Two things would change the picture: a statement from the Cubs about Bregman's condition, and his name either on or off the lineup card for the next game. Neither has happened yet, which is why the most consequential question about the incident remains unanswered.

Frequently asked questions

How serious is Alex Bregman's injury?: That has not been disclosed. The Cubs have released no medical information, so there is no confirmed diagnosis and no indication of how long he might be out.
Will Alex Bregman play in the Cubs' next game?: His availability has not been announced. It depends on an assessment of the injury, and the club has given no timetable for his return.
What is the on-deck circle?: It is the marked area beside the dugout where the next batter waits while the current hitter is at the plate. Bregman was standing there, rather than batting, when the foul ball struck him.
Who were the Cubs playing when Bregman was hit?: The Cincinnati Reds. The game was played on Sunday, and Bregman is reported to have left it after the ball struck his face.