Feb 23, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third base Enrique Hernández (8) and San Diego Padres third base Tyler Wade (14) shake hands before the game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

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WATCH: Padres prospect Cole Paplham becomes latest spring training casualty after 102mph liner to face

Another day, another pitcher takes a hit

Just days after Bobby Miller got nailed by a comeback liner, another pitcher has joined the unfortunate trend. San Diego Padres right-hander Cole Paplham was struck in the face by a scorching 102.4 mph line drive off the bat of Dodgers first baseman Aaron Bracho during Sunday’s game at Camelback Ranch.

A scary blow to the Padres prospect Cole Paplham

Cole Paplham remained conscious and alert as trainers rushed to check on him. After several tense minutes on the field, he managed to stand and walk to a golf cart under his own power before being taken off.

Prayers up for Padres reliever Cole Paplham after he took a nasty hit to the head from a line drive during this Dodgers, Padres Cactus League game 🙏

Just days after Bobby Miller got drilled by a 105.5 MPH ball 😣
pic.twitter.com/NiKflV1CRR
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) February 23, 2025

“Our prayers are with him,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “He was conscious, seemed alert, knew where he was. But clearly a scary thing. He was clearly in some pain, and obviously when something like that happens, a little bit rattled.”

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Bracho’s liner appeared to strike Paplham on the right side of his face, in the area of his cheek and jaw. The incident eerily mirrored what happened just three days prior, when Dodgers right-hander Bobby Miller was hit by a comebacker on the very same mound. Miller remains in concussion protocol.

Paplham, ranked as San Diego’s No. 23 prospect in 2024, had been showing promise as a potential bullpen arm. Last season, he posted a 4.82 ERA with 11 strikeouts over 9.1 innings while leading the Padres’ farm system in saves.

For a team already dealing with a depleted farm system due to aggressive trades in recent years, losing a top relief prospect is another tough hit. While the full extent of Paplham’s injury is yet to be determined, the Padres can only hope this isn’t another major setback.

Cole Paplham

Dodgers

Injury

Los Angeles Dodgers

San Diego Padres

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.