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.
Tanaka was “motionless on the mound for several minutes,” according to Erik Boland of Newsday.
Eventually, Tanaka was able to walk off the field with assistance from trainers.
https://twitter.com/MarlyRiveraESPN/status/1279500456369303552
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.”
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.
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.
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]