Willy Adames wears hockey helmet in the dugout

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) - On May 26, against the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames was hit by a foul ball during a Brian Anderson at-bat.

Adames left the game and was taken to the hospital. Even though the ball hit him at 90 mph, he did not suffer any facial fractures.

"It was a very scary thing that happened, that we, thankfully, and Willy, thankfully, escaped really unharmed," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell.

Adames was placed on the seven-day concussion list and returned to the field with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers where he homered in his first game. Then once he returned to the Brewers, he also hit a home run in a June 7 win against the Baltimore Orioles.

Now, nearly two weeks after that, Adames' agent, Giovanni Rodriguez, surprised him and thought it would be funny to provide Willy with some extra head gear in the dugout -- a hockey helmet.

"He sent it to the guy who designs our cleats, and they made a really cool design on it, and I thought it was cool," said Adames of his new head gear.

Adames debuted the helmet around the clubhouse, much to his teammates' enjoyment. He wore it in a game for the first time against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, June 17, but only during one player's at-bats.

"Only when BA (Brian Anderson) was hitting, I thought it would be more funny if I did it that way."

I thought that was pretty funny, pretty genius of him to think of," said Anderson. I think that sums up Willy. he's able to be positive about even the most negative things."

Anderson said Adames' spirit helped him once he came back. Adames says that's just the way he is.

Passion for the game, this is what I always wanted to do," said Adames. "So, I come every day to the field to try to be the best teammate I can be, the best version of myself on the field. I just love this game. i enjoy it every day and I try to have the most fun that I can."

While it is a stylish accessory, there's one determining factor on how long it sticks around.

"If we keep winning when I bring it out, I'll keep using it," said Adames. "See how it goes during the year, but I think I'm going to be using it more often."