When Ken returned to the dugout, he saw the coach looking at him with mixed emotions, but he shook his head shortly after. "Go get your foot looked at quickly." He said, not even commenting on his left handed pitching.
Ken was about to argue, but Coach Brown placed his hand upon his shoulder, "I never said I was going to take you out… I just want to be safe." He added.
After a few moments Ken nodded and made his way into the dugout, searching for the medical staff. The woman directed him to sit down and then grabbed his foot, about to untie the laces.
"Don't take it off… I probably won't be able to put it back on afterwards." Ken said, wincing slightly.
Hearing this, she frowned. "I can't examine it if I don't take off your cleats. Tell me what happened and where it's hurting."
So Ken explained what had happened when he kicked the bat and pointed out the spots where he was feeling pain. He realized that he was being a little selfish and hard to work with, but his hands were tied.
The medical staff nodded and took his leg in her arms before applying some pressure to the ball of his foot. Ken inhaled sharply, feeling a wave of pain. She pressed a few other spots and watched his reaction before letting out a sigh.
"I can't be certain, but it seems like you have a stress fracture thanks to the impact of the baseball bat. If you keep putting pressure on it, you will only make it worse." She said, standing to her feet, wearing a displeased expression.
"So what are you saying?" Ken asked, trying to suppress the throbbing pain assaulting him.
"You can't play anymore. All it will take is a single slip and your foot will be broken. If the break isn't clean then you might not ever walk the same, let alone get back to your previous form." She said simply.
Ken shook his head and was about to argue, but he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder in the next moment.
"Do you not trust us brother?" Steve said, his expression serious for a change.
"What?" Ken replied in question.
"Do you think that even playing injured and with your left arm that you're our best pitcher? I didn't realize you were so arrogant." He said, his tone rather harsh.
Ken's expression darkened. At first he was completely speechless, but then he slowly understood. How selfish was he being right now? Did he think that even in this state that he would be more effective than the other pitchers on the team?
No, he realized. He just wanted to pitch against Leo no matter what.
As the realization struck him, a sense of shame and helplessness seeped into his psyche. Ken gritted his teeth and felt true frustration in that moment.
"You're right." He said, barely above a whisper. "I was being arrogant and selfish…"
At this, Steve let out a sigh. "I know it sucks man, but you can trust us." He replied, patting Ken's shoulder once more.
After a few moments silence, Ken turned to the medical staff. "You can take my cleats off now…"
"I'll tell the coach you need a replacement." Steve said, walking up to the field.
Ken didn't respond, his head lowered. He felt his left shoe and sock get removed, giving an instant release. As he looked down, he could see that it had swollen significantly.
Steve approached the coach and gave him the rundown to which Coach Brown nodded. "You did well Steve, thank you for this."
Steve shook his head, "He is a stubborn guy sometimes, but he is a good person. He would have realized it eventually and taken himself off the field."
"Before or after he crippled himself?"
At this, Steve couldn't help but laugh, "At least we'll never have to find out."
A few moments later, the medical staff approached from the dugout and gave her report.
"It's a stress fracture. We'll need to get an x-ray done as soon as we can. For now, I've iced it and he needs to keep it elevated."
"Thank you Courtney." The coach replied, letting out a sigh.
By now, Brian was in the batters box facing the pitcher and Ken was supposed to be next up to bat. The coach called for Yu Guidolin, from the dugout and told him to get ready. By now everyone on the team knew that Ken was no longer playing and a weird atmosphere overtook them.
Seeing the usually calm and confident Ken reduced to such a state was a blow to their confidence.
"Go talk to the team, I'm making you the Captain for today's game." Coach Brown said to Steve, waving him away.
"Yes sir."
Brian was struck out after fighting back brilliantly from two strikes to a full count. He looked rather annoyed, but his mood turned shocked when he saw Yu warming up instead of Ken who was meant to bat next.
The coach walked over to the umpire and announced the changes to their lineup. A minute or so later, the announcer spoke over the speakers.
"We have a substitution for the Bobcats. Yu Guidolin will be coming in for Ken Takagi in the batting lineup. Tim Michaels will be replaced by Samuel Petty."
What would be a usual substitution announcement suddenly brought chaos. Everybody in the audience was shocked at the sudden substitution. They had seen a switch pitcher and after only a single inning he was taken out of the game.
Michael and Latrell in the crowd weren't as shocked, but that didn't mean they weren't affected. After only 3 innings total, Ken would no longer be pitching.
Michael was upset, but it was because he was worried about Ken. He didn't care that he had flown from California to Florida to see him play, he just hoped the guy was okay.
"He'll be fine right?" He asked worriedly.