ANAHEIM – Three years later, J.A. Happ considers himself fortunate.
The Toronto Blue Jays pitcher was struck on his left ear by a line drive in a May 2013 game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Had Desmond Jennings hit the ball a couple inches to the left or right, its impact wouldn’t have been softened by the outer ear cartilage we usually take for granted. To Happ, losing his hearing for a few weeks wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened.
What’s more, because he injured his knee falling to the ground on the same play, Happ didn’t pitch for another three months.