Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Pete Fairbanks returned from the disabled list but reported to the team’s locker room with a black eye.
But, Fairbanks explained, the black eye had nothing to do with the hip injury that placed him on the 15-day disabled list on May 28.
According to Fairbanks, the injury occurred during a basketball game with her 3-year-old son in a swimming pool.
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Pete Fairbanks of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts in the bottom of the seventh inning during Game 4 of the American League Division Series at Fenway Park on October 11, 2021 in Boston. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
Fairbanks was trying to teach his son a lesson on how to play basketball when you’re in the paint.
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Apparently, the lesson didn’t go as expected because her son ended up pulling the earring down over his face.
Pete Fairbanks against the Guardians in the second game of the wild card series at Progressive Field on October 8, 2022 in Cleveland. (Patricio Smith/Getty Images)
«We were playing in our new house in the pool, and I hooped in the face after dunking a 3-year-old trying to teach him an early life lesson that when you’re in the paint, you shouldn’t can be caught unawares below the edge,» Fairbanks said.
Some of Fairbanks’ teammates couldn’t pass up the opportunity to taunt the relief pitcher. At the same time, the team is certainly excited to have him back and healthy enough to pitch.
Before the injury, Fairbanks was in the midst of a good season.
Pete Fairbanks and Francisco Mejia of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate winning a game against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on April 12, 2023 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Mike Ehrman/Getty Images)
Fairbanks has a 1.54 ERA with 10 strikeouts and five saves in 13 appearances this season.
The Rays got off to a good start this season and have been able to maintain their momentum.
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Tampa Bay recorded its 50th win of the season on Thursday and currently has the best record in the MLB.