Toronto Blues Jay pitcher J.A. Happ survives hit ball to the head Toronto pitcher JA Happ was stretched from the field after taking a ball to the head in a game against Tampa Bay. Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ is carried from the field after he was hit by a line drive. Happ lies on the mound after he was hit by the sharply hit ball. TORONTO Blue Jays starting pitcher J.A. Happ was struck in the head with a line drive and taken off the field by stretcher in an MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays today. Happ was left bloodied as he went down when Desmond Jennings' blast deflected off the side of his head and into right field. Jennings ended up on third base. Blue Jays medical personnel immediately ran to the mound to tend to the 30-year-old. He was immobilised on a stretcher, but the left-handed pitcher's hands were moving as he waved to the crowd before heading off the field to receive further medical treatment. The incident sparked memories of last season, when then-Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy took a line drive off his head. He walked off the field, but was diagnosed with a skull fracture and a brain contusion. Pitcher's lucky escape Major League Baseball has been working on introducing head gear for pitchers, who are often in a defenceless position on their follow through and vulnerable to sharply hit balls. The Jays won today's contest 6-4.