Padres bench coach Rick Renteria is expected to return to the team as early as Saturday following Thursday night surgery to fix a broken palate after a line drive struck him in the mouth during batting practice in Peoria, Ariz.
Renteria, 49, was expected to leave the hospital on Friday, Padres manager Bud Black said.
The bench coach was in the Padres' dugout during the morning session. The baseball ricocheted off a protective scene and "hit him square, right above the lip," Black told NBC San Diego media partner The North County Times.
The impact of the ball pushed his teeth back.
Renteria has coached within the organization since 2003. He was the team's first-base coach the past three seasons and is in his first year as a bench coach.
Last month, a ball struck third-base coach Glenn Hoffman in the head during batting practice, leaving a small bump.
Renteria split five minor-league seasons as an infielder between the Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners and Florida Marlins organizations.
