Yankees’ Rachel Balkovec posts brutal photo after foul ball accident

Ahead of a key campaign where hopeful eyes will certainly be upon her, tough-as-nails New York Yankees Single-A manager Rachel Balkovec suffered an unfortunate setback this week.

Preparing to manage a Tampa Tarpons team that should feature top prospects Jasson Dominguez and Antonio Gomez, along with several 2021 draftees, Balkovec has been working at the Yankees’ minor-league camp for months (pre-lockout) and assisting with workouts/getting to know her new employees.

On Wednesday, however, it was announced that sometime in recent days, Balkovec had been struck in the face by a ball off the bat. The extent of her injuries weren’t revealed, but she was prescribed rest, and the announcement that Balkovec “did not expect” the injuries to affect her regular season seemed somewhat worrisome.

If it’s an expectation and not a surety, clearly the accident was serious enough for there to be at least some level of doubt about her availability.

On Thursday, Balkovec checked in to share her side of the story — and post a photo that showed the extent of the damage.

Needless to say, we wish her the absolute best during her recuperation, because it really seems as if she got struck flush on the eye while throwing side flips.

Yankees minor-league manager Rachel Balkovec posts photo of accident aftermath

The final portion of Balkovec’s announcement hits home the hardest: Go all out every day, because you never know when an entirely random ricochet will toss your best-laid plans aside.

The minor-league season begins for Tampa on April 8 in Lakeland, FL, concurrent with the MLB season (on the Yankees’ first off day of the season). Hopefully, after some time off her feet, Balkovec will be able to return to the dugout to captain her squad in that battle.

No update on the ball that struck Balkovec, but rumors are circling it needed stitches after connecting with the manager’s tough exterior.

5 replacements for Yankees’ Domingo German after shoulder injury

These 5 replacements could help the New York Yankees make up for Domingo German's lost innings due to his shoulder injury.