Yarbrough wins 1st start since line drive to face

CLEVELAND — Ryan Yarbrough completed a journey he never expected to take.

Two months after suffering facial fractures when he was struck by a 106 mph line drive, Yarbrough returned to the mound Sunday and helped the struggling Kansas City Royals to a 4-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians that felt extra special.

“More than I could have dreamed of,” Yarbrough said.

With his wife, daughter and other family members at Progressive Field, Yarbrough (2-4), who didn’t know what the future held when he was smashed by the liner from Oakland’s Ryan Noda on May 7, pitched six solid innings as the Royals ended a six-game skid.

Yarbrough’s statistical line was less important than him returning from a frightening moment that could have ended his career.

“I have an understanding of what happened and coming back from it and what could have been and how lucky and blessed I am,” the 31-year-old left-hander said. “It’s just been great and the amount of support from the guys, especially after the game. It’s been great.”

Yarbrough’s return was a huge boost for the Royals, who haven’t had much to celebrate this season.

“Incredible,” said center fielder Kyle Isbel, who homered and made a game-saving catch in the ninth for Kansas City. “That’s not just a baseball injury. That’s life. Seeing him walk into the dugout today, the energy he had was really incredible and it really sparked the dugout.”

Yarbrough said the quick response by Kansas City’s medical personnel played an important role in his recovery. He feels lucky that he didn’t need stitches or surgeries.

Once his facial bones healed, Yarbrough was determined to get back quickly.

“I don’t think anybody knew what the time frame was going to be or how long it was going to be,” he said. “It was just kind of a waiting game. Extremely blessed.”

After his first pitch, Yarbrough let his instincts take over.

“It was great,” he said. “I felt like I’ve been able to soak it in the last couple days and really just try to think about it as going to back to work as much as possible.”