Advertisement

Archie Bradley bonds with Phoenix teen hit by line drive on same day

Mark Townsend
·Yahoo Sports Contributor

Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Archie Bradley and 14-year-old Nicholas Shumaker from Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, Ariz., have something in common that no two baseball players wish to share.

On April 28, both were pitching for their respective teams when disaster struck in the form of vicious line-drive comebackers, which left both of their short-term futures in baseball in question.

However, little did they know that in those moments of anguish and uncertainty, the foundation was laid for a new relationship and a special bond. A bond that sustained them through the early part of their recoveries, and may only grow as they continue with their respective comebacks.

Looking back at that potentially life-altering night, Bradley was hit in the face by a line drive off the bat of Carlos Gonzalez, which according to statistical data was traveling 115 mph off the bat.

Amazingly, Bradley was able to walk off the field under his own power, pass concussion protocols and avoid facial fractures. He was only found to have suffered damage to his sinus cavity. In fact, Bradley is expected to return to Arizona's rotation when eligible on May 15, which would be remarkable.

[PREVIOUSLY: Archie Bradley leaves start after being hit in the face with a line drive.]

While Bradley's scary scene was playing out on television and being digested and speculated about all over social media, Shumaker was going through his own frightening experience after taking a direct hit during his a high-school game. The results were far more serious, as Shumaker was forced to undergo emergency surgery at Phoenix Children's Hospital. 

"They hit a line drive right to me, and I put my glove up to catch it, and I just lost track of the ball... I had three broken bones in my nose, and I cracked both of my orbital bones," said Shumaker.

There were far fewer fans in attendance to experience that moment. There was no equipment or analysts in place to determine how hard the baseball was hit. But the human life involved was no less important, which is why Shumaker's doctors and hospital staff thought it would be good and perhaps even theraputic to bring the two baseball players together to share their remarkably similar stories following Shumaker's operation.

It appears it worked as hoped.

[Check out Big League Stew on Tumblr for even more baseball awesomeness.]

Here's more from Fox 10 in Phoenix:

"The door opened and I thought it was going to be my doctor to take my vitals and stuff again, and I saw Archie Bradley, and it like made my day or my whole year, it was really cool," said Shumaker.

The family said Archie stayed for an hour taking baseball and offering up some tips. He even brought signed memorabilia including a jersey, a ball, and his rookie card.

The two shared stories about their facial injuries and comparing black eyes. The family said it was a small gesture on the part of Archie that has made a big impact for this young baseball player.

Awesome gesture on Bradley's part and a job well done by those who helped bring them together.

Of course, the best news here is that Nicholas Shumaker is doing well and was even able to return to school on Tuesday. But if there's a cherry to be placed on top, it's that he fully intends on returning to baseball when medically cleared. The game of baseball may have knocked him down, but like his new hero Archie Bradley, it can't keep them down.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

- - - - - - -

Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!