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David Fry injury gives Guardians new motivation amid push for AL Central title | Opinion
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- David Fry injury gives Guardians new motivation amid push for AL Central title | Opinion
CLEVELAND — No one wanted this .
No one would ever wish for anything like it to happen.
But after David Fry took a 99-mph fastball to the face, the Guardians are left to choose how they will respond.
Guardians news: Cleveland provides update on David Fry's status
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With 4 games left, Cleveland Guardians alone in first place in the AL Central Division standings
The habanero-hot Guardians have already proved they can find motivation without heartbreak hitting their clubhouse. They have repeatedly risen from the dead this year and fought their way to the top the American League Central Division standings with four regular-season games remaining during a September to remember.
Yet, honoring Fry by ensuring a remarkable comeback culminates in a playoff berth represents a new frontier for the Guardians to conquer.
The general vibe in the Cleveland clubhouse on Sept. 24, when the Guardians defeated the AL Central rival Detroit Tigers 5-1 and thereby secured a crucial series win, can be summarized as a mixture of relief and determination.
Cleveland Guardians' David Fry celebrates hitting a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 2, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts.
David Fry injury update encourages Cleveland Guardians
The relief stemmed from the Guardians learning Fry had been discharged earlier in the day from the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus after being hospitalized overnight. The team announced Fry suffered facial and nasal fractures but is expected to fully recover in the next six to eight weeks without the need for surgery.
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The determination is connected to Fry's teammates launching a collective mission to pay tribute to him while he's sidelined. The Guardians placed him on the 10-day injured list and recalled Johnathan Rodríguez from Triple-A Columbus.
While Fry attempted to bunt Sept. 23 in the sixth inning of Cleveland's 5-2 win over Detroit, his face absorbed a pitch from Tigers ace Tarik Skubal . Fry was carted off the field with a towel held to his face. He was taken to Lutheran Medical Center before being transferred to the Cleveland Clinic for further testing and observation.
Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry (6) leaves the field in a cart after he was hit in the face by a foul ball in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field.
Cleveland Guardians teammates react to David Fry being hit in the face with 99 mph pitch
After the game, Guardians catcher Austin Hedges encouraged his teammates to rally around Fry, an All-Star utility player last year who had been limited to designated hitter duties this season after returning June 1 from the reconstructive surgery he had on his right elbow in November.
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As right fielder C.J. Kayfus explained to the Beacon Journal, Hedges' message was essentially, "Let's use that as a factor on how we continue with this hot streak." Hedges and Kayfus are Fry's locker neighbors in the clubhouse.
Hedges characterized himself as "sick to your stomach" and "on the verge of tears" when Fry was injured.
"He exudes 'Guards Ball.' The leader that he is on and off the field, the talented player that he is on the field — All-Star — he means so much to us in this group," Hedges said. "To watch that go down was devastating for all of us. But more so, more reasons for us to go fight even harder for a guy like that.
"Anytime you can play the game for something that's more than yourself, it always seems to allow guys to play with more passion, play better. With what happened to David, I know he'll be in the back of our minds constantly."
Cleveland Guardians' David Fry reacts after he was hit in the face by a pitch against the Detroit Tigers on Sept. 23, 2025, in Cleveland.
George Valera 's home run sparks vital win for Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians (86-72) have won 17 of their past 19 games, including the last five against the Tigers (85-73).
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In Cleveland's most recent triumph, DH George Valera smashed a two-run home run to give the Guardians the lead for good in the third inning. Left fielder Steven Kwan hit an RBI single in the fifth, and third baseman Jose Ramirez added a two-run double in the seventh. Starting pitcher Tanner Bibee gutted out six innings, allowing just one run and earning the win to improve to 12-11 this season.
Here's hoping those performances gave solace to the 29-year-old Fry.
Of course, Fry wants to be playing with the Guardians. But given the circumstances, part of him can probably find a silver lining in having a unique opportunity to inspire his teammates.
"We use everything [to drive us], but that especially," first baseman and DH Kyle Manzardo said. "You had a guy put his face on the line for the team, so I think that speaks volumes of his character, who he is and what winning games means to him."
Cleveland Guardians' David Fry is hit in the face by a pitch thrown by Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal on Sept. 23, 2025, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Guardians heartened by visiting David Fry
Hedges and fellow Guardians catcher Bo Naylor visited Fry at his apartment after his release from the hospital. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt and other members of the organization visited Fry in the hospital on the night of the injury. Vogt understands there is much more to life than baseball, as evidenced by him driving Skubal to the hospital to check on Fry.
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The consensus from the people who saw Fry is he was in good spirits. Manzardo said Fry sent a text message to a group chat with teammates to let everyone know he's doing all right.
Guardians news: Where Cleveland sits in AL Central, MLB wild-card standings after game Wednesday
Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry on deck against the Colorado Rockies on July 30, 2025, in Cleveland.
The Guardians are a tight-knit group, and they have been through a lot this season. A 10-game losing streak and an MLB sports betting investigation in which three-time All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase and starting pitcher Luis Ortiz were placed on paid leave would have caused less cohesive clubhouses to splinter.
The Guardians were 15½ games behind the Tigers on July 8, 10½ games back on Sept. 1 and 9½ games behind them on Sept. 10. They moved into a tie for first place on the night Fry was struck, but they also seized the tiebreaker against the Tigers.
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Now Cleveland is a game ahead of Detroit and on a mission to hang onto first place. The Guardians have another meeting with the Tigers on Sept. 25 and a three-game series at home against the Texas Rangers from Sept. 26-28 to end the regular season.
A galvanized team can be a dangerous one in the playoffs, and the Guardians have found another reason to unite.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com . On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians motivated to honor David Fry with AL Central title
