'I Don't Watch Games Without a Cup': Francona's Hilarious Reaction to Chase Burns Injury
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Chase Burns was on the unfortunate end of a Bryce Harper line drive that hit him directly in the groin area that looked to be quite painful, despite the 23-year-old star appearing to be fine.
The good news? Burns pitched six innings, allowing just one run on three hits and striking out nine, improving his record to 6-1 and his third straight win in the Reds victory.
The bad news? Burns was apparently not wearing a cup, which sounds like playing with fire and something that likely very few pitchers on all levels of baseball would choose to follow.
Francona's Quote Stole the Show After Burns Took a Comebacker Without a Cup
Reds manager Terry Francona was kind enough to provide all the details on the dicey approach by Burns, which somehow did not result in a major injury.
But first, let's take a look at Harper's truly direct hit, clocked at a not-so-fortunate 108 mph.
Chase Burns was just hit by a line drive off the bat of Bryce Harper.
— Reds Daily (@RedsDaily4) May 20, 2026
Appears to be okay. pic.twitter.com/4DIubazTE8
Yet, somehow, the cup-free Burns quickly gathered himself, picked up the ball and flipped it to first base for the routine out to end the inning, and proceeded to jog back to the dugout as if this type of thing happens to him once an inning.
Following the game, Francona was asked about the line drive that struck Burns.
To little surprise, the longtime MLB manager offered up a priceless reaction:
"I'll tell 'ya what, that was scary. Then he ran off the mound, I thought he was OK. Then he got in the dugout and it looked like he was dead," Francona said. "I asked him, I said 'Hey man, please tell me you have a cup on.' And he said, 'No' and I was like 'Chase I don't even watch a game on TV without wearing a cup.' I said, 'Golly, you guys are crazy.'"
Terry Francona on the line drive that hit Chase Burns:
— Chatterbox Sports (@CBoxSports) May 20, 2026
"I ask him, ‘hey man, please tell me you have a cup on?' and he said no, I was like, ‘Chase, I don't even watch a game without wearing a cup.'" pic.twitter.com/xrNiENb16p
Francona's reaction, while hilarious, also came with some very reasonable logic.
Most baseball fans would probably just assume that any pitcher or catcher would be taking the field wearing a protective cup simply based on their respective positions, and the potential for a disastrous injury they could face during any given at-bat.
But, as they say, whatever works.
And it's cleary been working for the thriving Burns, who has given up just two runs over his last 25 innings pitched.
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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 12:37 PM.