Kevin Plawecki is Literally #Blessed to Catch Noah Syndergaard

First, the news. New York Mets catcher Kevin Plawecki blocked a Noah Syndergaard pitch during last night’s victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The impact caused his cross necklace to leave an imprint on his chest.

Let’s credit SNY reporter Steve Gelbs for getting a good nugget. This is the type of stuff that gets us through a six-month baseball season. But let’s also take a look at the reaction this photograph has elicited from the online sports community.

Now, far be it for me to call out hyperbole but are we, as a society, really shocked that a hard object thrown at such a speed will cause trauma on a body? When metal is pressed with great force on a human chest, there’s going to be some evidence.

Even a 60 mph fastball will leave a welt on a leg. Sure, Plawecki was wearing a chest protector but that’s a thin layer of padding, not a steel plate that absorbs all energy.

But, hey, it’s a cool photo and anything that can add to the legend of Thor is good narrative-building. We can ignore the same thing could have happened if it were Greg Maddux on the hill. No one’s getting hurt.