There was a terrifying scene during a sim game at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.
New York slugger Giancarlo Stanton — who hits baseballs as hard as anybody on the planet — crushed a line drive that hit Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka on the head.
Giancarlo Stanton just lined a ball off Masahiro Tanaka on the mound, appeared to go right off his head.
Scary scene as the training staff runs out on the field. pic.twitter.com/uw0po8AIVK
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) July 4, 2020
Oh no. Masahiro Tanaka was just hit in the head by a line drive off Giancarlo Stanton's bat. Very scary. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/ZhuQwkt1xm
— Tom Hanslin (@TomHanslin) July 4, 2020
Tanaka was “motionless on the mound for several minutes,” according to Erik Boland of Newsday.
Tanaka has been motionless on the mound for several minutes now after taking a line drive off the side of his head on a ball hit by Giancarlo Stanton.
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) July 4, 2020
Eventually, Tanaka was able to walk off the field with assistance from trainers.
https://twitter.com/MarlyRiveraESPN/status/1279500456369303552
Tanaka is now gingerly walking off the field with assistance from the #Yankees training staff. That was really a scary moment. pic.twitter.com/FGMGasjGfB
— Tom Hanslin (@TomHanslin) July 4, 2020
It’s great news that Tanaka was even able to get up and walk after taking that rocket comebacker to the head, but he’s surely being examined for a concussion.
Tanaka, 31, has been a key part of New York’s starting rotation after leaving Japan to join the Yankees in 2014. In 2019, Tanaka — known for his precise command — had a 4.45 ERA, 4.27 FIP, and 3.3 WAR (per FanGraphs) in 182 innings pitched.
Update: The Yankees tweeted that Tanaka “is currently alert, responsive and walking under his own power, and “is being sent to NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital for further evaluation and testing.”
RHP Masahiro Tanaka was hit in the head with a line drive during today’s sim game. He is currently alert, responsive and walking under his own power. He is being sent to
NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital for further evaluation and testing.— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 4, 2020
Update II: Yankees manager Aaron Boone says that Tanaka will go into concussion protocol, but is encouraged by how Tanaka is feeling. Tanaka’s CT scan was negative, and he’s expected to be released from the hospital tonight.
Masahiro Tanaka had a CT scan that was negative. He is still at the hospital but is expected to be released this evening. Aaron Boone said that Tanaka will go into concussion protocol.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) July 4, 2020
Tanaka is going into concussion protocol, but Boone is encouraged by how he's feeling. A CT scan was negative. Boone expects Tanaka to be released from hospital later tonight. #Yankees
— Jake Seiner (@Jake_Seiner) July 4, 2020
Update III: The Yankees announced that Tanaka has been released from the hospital.
RHP Masahiro Tanaka has been released from the hospital. https://t.co/nuCScPs4LS
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 4, 2020
Update IV: Well, this seems like a best-case scenario, all things considered- just two days after the incident, Tanaka spent 15-20 minutes riding the bike at Yankee Stadium.
https://twitter.com/lindseyadler/status/1280231460507652105
[Photo Credit: YES Network]
