I must have been hit in the head. Got hit in the back once and it was extremely painful. when I pitched getting hit by a ball was always in the back of my mind. I did catch one that was aimed straight at my face
A heart attack is the more likely cause. Although rare, a ball strike in the chest can trigger a heart attack if it occurs near the heart and at a vulnerable moment in the heart’s cycle of circulation.
When I played little league our coach brought a kid from the Babe Ruth division to a practice to pitch to us. He wanted us to hit fast balls.
Well, none of us kids could catch his pitches so the coach put on a mask and pulled up a cinder block behind the plate.(The strike zone for little leaguers is pretty low and he couldn’t stay in such a low crouch for long.) He sat down on that cinder block and was trying to tell us how to anticipate the ball and swing into the motion of the pitcher.
He should have worn a cup.
A low fast ball was tipped by the batter, popped off the plate and bounced right into the cinder block where his marbles dallied. He was still howling when the ambulance closed the door. Four games later he came by on crutches to wish us luck.
Pitchers probably should wear a mask.