Texas Rangers reliever Tanner Scheppers sustained a contusion and bruise on his left eye after being "sucker-punched" by a group of young men in downtown Cleveland Thursday night, reports T. R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
Scheppers told reporters that he traveled a few blocks from the team hotel to go get food. He ran into the group and was "sucker-punched" by several young men. He fell hard to the ground, but did not lose consciousness. Scheppers said the attackers did not rob him, and fled from the scene.
Team doctors examined Scheppers after the incident. The reliever said that he had a headache, but did not suffer a concussion.
Scheppers discussed the incident, telling Sullivan:
"It's one of those things ... I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, It happened so quickly. The police were called. They said unfortunately this happened quite a bit."
The attack left Scheppers unavailable to pitch in the Rangers 11-8 loss Friday to the Indians, but he would have been available if necessary Saturday. Scheppers has a 1.71 ERA in 46 appearances this season.
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