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New York Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka had to be helped off the field Saturday after being hit in the head by a line from Giancarlo Stanton. Tanaka, who had been launching a simulated game, stood still for several minutes before two coaches assisted him at the clubhouse.
The entire scene was captured and broadcast on the YES Network as part of their coverage of the start of the Yankees’ second camp. Although we would advise against it, you can click here to see for yourself.
The Yankees tweeted an update on Tanaka’s status, noting that he is “alert, responsive, and walking in his own power,” and that they sent him to “NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital for further evaluation and testing.” Since then, Tanaka has been released from the hospital, according to the team.
Tanaka, 31, is set to enter his seventh season with the Yankees. In his first six years, he averaged 27 starts per pop and compiled a 113 ERA + ERA and 4.74 foot strikeout. Last year, he made his second All-Star Game and led the Yankees in pitched innings.
Stanton, who reacted with horror, has already had a similar experience. He was hit in the face by pitcher Mike Fiers in September 2014. He suffered multiple facial fractures and required stitches and dental work as a result. One can only hope that Tanaka will leave without similar injuries.
The Yankees are reportedly starting their season against the Washington Nationals on July 23. It is unclear if that game will be played due to the state of the pandemic and the spread of COVID-19 across the country. Major League Baseball had originally planned to launch its 2020 season on March 26. The new coronavirus forced the league to stop on those plans about two weeks earlier, along with the rest of the sports world.
