Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer drills umpire in groin with fastball

Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Pitcher Michael Fulmer had a bad start Tuesday when the Detroit Tigers star hit umpire Mike Everitt in the groin with a sinker.

Fulmer was warming up for the game Tuesday at Coors Field in Colorado, before the Tigers lost 7-3 to the Colorado Rockies. He fired in an offering to stand-in catcher Andrew Romine. But the sinking fastball sailed to the right of the catcher and straight to the groin of the veteran umpire.

"I've never seen my ball do that before, ever," Fulmer said, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Fellow umpires surrounded Everitt before he was attended to by the Rockies' trainer. He left the game. Umpire Tom Woodring moved from second base to home plate for the contest, which was played with three umpires. The incident caused a 12-minute delay.

Fulmer chose not to use the pitch for most of the game when the action got started in Colorado. He surrendered five runs and eight hits in 6.1 innings.

"I felt terrible doing that," Fulmer told the Detroit News. "I've never done that before in my life. I just hope he's all right."

Everitt should make a healthy recovery.

"All's good," Everitt told the Detroit News after the game. "Praise God. Everything's good."

Everitt had an MRI that revealed no extensive damage.