BOSTON RED SOX catcher Christian Vazquez was saved by his sunglasses after a freak training ground accident almost blinded him.

Just days before the new MLB season gets underway, the Puerto Rican revealed a nasty gash under his left eye.

The incident occurred when he took his mask off for a breather during a practice session last week – unbeknownst to the pitcher.

Hirokazu Sawamura launched the ball towards Vazquez thinking he was ready but it caught him flush in the face.

His sunglasses dug into his skin, creating a large cut underneath his eye that required several stitches.

And the 2018 World Series champion spoke to the media on Monday to express how lucky an escape it was.

Vazquez, 30, said: "Those sunglasses saved my eye.

"If I don’t have the sunglasses, it was a different story."

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My wife likes the scar, so we’re good.

Amazingly, the catcher insisted he is '99 per cent' likely to be fit for the Red Sox season-opener against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

Vazquez certainly appeared to be in good spirits and joked 'you like my scar' with reporters before adding: "My wife likes it, so we’re good."

He then described the accident, stating: "I saw the ball right here in my face and it knocked me down to the floor.

"All hits in the face, you’re worried. I was worried about my eye.

"When I got hit I opened my eye and I was seeing, so that was a good sign. That’s the only concern I had when it happened. I’m not worried.

"I caught a bullpen [on Monday] and it’s not bothering me, so I’m 99 per cent sure I can go on Thursday."

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