Scouting Report: C.J. Cron

Summary

Jake Cronenworth was hit in the jaw by a pitch from Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi on April 18, 2026. Initially cleared from concussion protocol, he continued playing for nearly three weeks while experiencing worsening symptoms including headaches, fogginess, difficulty focusing, and dizziness. He attributed symptoms to high altitude during trips to Denver and Mexico City. His batting performance collapsed dramatically during this period (.111 BA in 27 at-bats post-incident, .144 BA for season with 1 HR, 4 RBI, .468 OPS). He was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list on May 5, 2026, after finally reporting symptoms. Cronenworth acknowledged he should have reported issues earlier but had never experienced a concussion before.