Cotuit, Mass. – When Jack Natili (Cincinnati) left the game on Friday after being hit by a pitch on his right forearm, there was much uncertainty about the rest of the season's outlook. Baseball is a team sport, but the Bearcat catcher is one of the best bats in the CCBL and losing him would put a massive hole in anyone’s lineup.
Immediately after the game, he went to the emergency room to get his forearm evaluated and received good news. Instead of a major injury, it was just a bone bruise. While he may have to rest for a few days, Natili was confident about making a quick recovery.
“I was a little unsure at first if I would be alright. You can’t really feel broken bones. But just working through that, getting the X-ray to clear things was good,” says Natili. “After that, I knew I could make a quick return.”
He took the weekend off, including the CCBL All-Star Game. While missing that was frustrating, he said staying healthy to help make a playoff push was more important.
On Monday, the backstop took batting practice and suited up as the designated hitter against the Chatham Anglers. He went just 1-for-4 and scored a run, but seeing him back in action was a massive relief for the organization.
“He wasn’t going to let us give him a day off; he wanted to play. That’s why he will have a chance to play for a long time,” said Cotuit manager Loren Hibbs. “Good for him to get back in the lineup today. He was not anywhere close to 100%, not anywhere close.”
Natili is tough as nails and could potentially play through it. However, his health and ability to play down the stretch are the main concerns, so he’ll be evaluated on Tuesday to see if he can catch. If not, Hibbs says he’ll get the day off, then another one on Wednesday with the league-wide rest day before suiting up again on Thursday.
Being hit by a pitch that hard in your throwing arm is no joke. The Pennsylvania native is extremely fortunate and realizes that. Even with him potentially missing a few games, having Natili back is a boost for the team as he's one of the more dangerous bats in the league. Through 26 games, he's batting .244 with five home runs and 20 RBIs (T-1st in the CCBL).
“It’s a bit of a dodged bullet moment. I get hit by a lot of pitches, and as a catcher, I wear a lot of stuff. So, I know how it feels to get banged up a bit, but it’s just part of it,” he says. “I’ll just keep working through it and take care of my body.”
