Cincinnati Reds rookie Noelvi Marte injured pregame, scratched from Saturday's lineup

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte was knocked out of Saturday night's game against the St. Louis Cardinals before it started because of a freak pregame incident.

Marte was playing catch with shortstop Elly De La Cruz minutes before the game when he looked away. De La Cruz didn't notice before he let go of the ball and it struck Marte on the left side of his face near his nose, causing a bad bruise and a gash.

Reds Cardinals Covid How Cincinnati Reds dealing with surprise of 5th, 6th COVID-19 IL moves in nine days

Reds Cardinals Votto Why all eyes on Joey Votto in Sunday's return to Cincinnati Reds from IL

Marte, who debuted last month, was scratched from the lineup and treated for the cut and bruise.

"That was scary," said manager David Bell, who said Marte did not need stitches and was "going to be fine."

Bell said he didn't know how soon Marte might return to the lineup. "He got tested as a precaution. There's a chance he's back pretty soon," he said.

The Reds have an off day Monday before opening a two-city road trip in Detroit on Tuesday.

Marte had left the ballpark by the time media arrived in the clubhouse postgame. De La Cruz declined through a team spokesman to talk about it after the game.

Carson Spiers, the Reds starting pitcher, was walking in from the bullpen and near Marte when it happened.

“I didn’t really see much,” said Spiers, who had his head down. “I actually heard the ball hit Marte in the mouth, or the nose or wherever it got him. I was looking down and then I just heard the noise of the ball hit his face.

“I think he’s doing all right. He’s in good spirits and stuff.”

Spencer Steer moved from second to third base in Marte's absence for Saturday's game.

Alejo Lopez, a non-40-man infielder added as a COVID-injured-list substitute on Saturday, replaced Marte in the No. 8 spot in the lineup, playing second.

Lopez had an almost immediate impact on the game, making a diving stop for the third out in the second inning, saving a run, and driving in a run in the bottom of the second with a double into the right-field corner.

He also was ejected in the fourth inning after commenting on a called third strike.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds Noelvi Marte suffers cut, bruise playing catch pregame