Taylor Ward, a Los Angeles Angels outfielder, was rushed to a Toronto hospital for tests after getting hit in the head by a pitch from Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah in the fifth inning Saturday.
Angels manager Phil Nevin said he planned to visit Ward in the hospital after the team’s 6-1 loss.
Ward was hit with a 91-mph 2-0 pitch while batting with the bases loaded. The ball looked to hit Ward around his next left eye, knocking off his batting helmet.
“It got him pretty flush,” Nevin remarked.
Plate umpire Andy Fletcher waved to the Angels’ dugout for the trainer as Ward collapsed with blood streaming down his face.
“It’s scary,” Angels left-handed pitcher Reid Detmers said. “You’re just hoping and praying that he’s all right, that he gets up.”
Angels personnel raced to the plate, holding a cloth to Ward’s face. Ward stood up after a few minutes and boarded a cart to leave the field. His left eye appeared swollen shut.
“Obviously, it didn’t look very good,” Angels infielder Mike Moustakas stated. “Hopefully, we’ll have some positive news here shortly. “We are all praying for him.”
Standing atop the hill, Manoah rested his hands on his head. This was the second hit.
Andrew Velazquez raced for Ward, who scored the game’s first run. Velazquez moved to shortstop, while Luis Rengifo, who scored on the play, moved to left field in the bottom half of the inning.
When asked if the Angels will visit Ward in the hospital, Moustakas stated it was best to let his teammate recover.
“I’m sure we’ll all send him some text messages and see how he’s doing, but I don’t know if going over there is a good thing,” Moustakas told reporters. “I don’t believe that’s the best thing to do right now. Allow him to relax, recover, and become healthy.”
Before the game resumed, Blue Jays manager John Schneider stepped to the mound and replaced Manoah with left-hander Génesis Cabrera.
