Pittsburgh Pirates' Sean Casey ducks just before being hit by a pitch from Cincinnati Reds pitcher Michael Gosling Wednesday at baseball spring training in Sarasota, Fla.

SARASOTA, Fla. — Sean Casey of the Pittsburgh Pirates was struck in the helmet by a pitch from Cincinnati left-hander Michael Gosling in the third inning of a split-squad exhibition game Wednesday.

Casey, who had minor swelling above his right eye, lay on the ground for about 30 seconds as the crowd was silenced and Gosling covered his head while crouching in front of the mound. Casey went to first base and left the game after the inning.

Casey faced Cincinnati for the first time since the December trade that sent him to his hometown team. He played eight years for the Reds.

"Yeah, I thought I had some friends over here," Casey said with a laugh. "But, hey, that's baseball. It happens. The ball got away from him. That's the way it goes. You take that risk every time you get in the batter's box."

After the inning, Casey approached Gosling to let him know he had no problem with the pitch.

"I told him, `It's all right,"' Casey said. "Obviously, he's coming in tight on a 2-0 pitch, and the ball just sailed on him."

Casey received a loud ovation before his first at-bat from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium. Before the game, he shook hands and embraced numerous fans and former teammates.

One fan shouted out during one of his at-bats: "We love you, Sean Casey! We don't like your shirt, though!"

"There are still mixed emotions," Casey said. "Everything I've done as a big leaguer has been with the Reds. I see those guys over there. I'm a human being. I like the guys in the Pirates' clubhouse. They've been good to me. But I developed a lot of relationships over there, too."

Casey's 2005 season ended Sept. 16 in Pittsburgh when, while playing for the Reds, he was knocked unconscious while colliding with Pirates catcher Humberto Cota. Casey sustained a concussion and was taken off the field on a stretcher.

It remains to be seen how long Casey will be in Pittsburgh.

Casey said Pittsburgh's recent contract extensions for outfielder Jason Bay and shortstop Jack Wilson are a sign the team has a brighter future.