BRADENTON, Fla. — Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett will fly back to Pittsburgh tonight to have his right eye examined by team doctors after he was struck in the face by a batted ball.

Burnett was injured this morning as he was batting during a bunting drill. Momentarily dazed, Burnett dropped into a crouch at the plate after the ball struck him on the temple near his eye.

As he was examined by an athletic trainer, Burnett joked, "Where did the bone go?"

Holding a towel against his face, Burnett was helped off the field. He left the team's spring training complex without speaking to reporters. The Pirates have released no information regarding the exact nature of Burnett's injury.

The Pirates acquired Burnett, 35, on the eve of spring training in a three-player trade with the New York Yankees. Before the injury, Burnett was expected to be the Pirates' starting pitcher on Opening Day.

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