Marlins pitcher Daniel Castano suffered a “mild” concussion and a forehead contusion after he was struck in the side of the head by a 104-mph line drive Thursday afternoon, the team said before Miami’s 7-6 win over the Reds.

“I’m not sure what happened,” Castano said after the game, wearing a bandage on his forehead where some skin had scraped off. “I was down for a second. I was a little out of it. When I woke up, I asked, ‘What happened?’ I’m much better now. I’m a little bit tired, but I’ll be all right.”

Shortly after being called up from Triple-A for a spot start, Castano was drilled in the first inning by a comebacker off the bat of Cincinnati Reds third baseman Donovan Solano. Upon impact, the ball ricocheted off Castano’s head and into the air before it landed in third baseman Joey Wendle’s glove seconds later. 

“I’m just glad we got the out,” Castano said with a smile after the game.

“They say the farther it goes, the better off you are,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “If it hits you and drops straight down, that means you caught it flush.”

The 27-year-old left-hander, who said he had never been hit by a comebacker, immediately dropped to his knees and covered his face with his hand after taking the line drive off the forehead. Solano could only look on in horror as he squatted near first base, clearly in horror over the unintentional hit.

Marlins trainers immediately came to Castano’s aid and had a cart ready to take him off the field, but quickly deemed him OK to walk off under his own power. 

Castano, who only threw 23 pitches and faced just five batters before getting hurt, was showered in cheers from the road crowd as he miraculously got to his feet just moments after the impact. While walking toward the dugout, the pitcher was met by Solano, who expressed his apologies by placing his arm around Castano.

Castano is 2-7 in 17 starts and five relief appearances in his big league career. He was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville to make the start.

— with AP