Horrifying moment minor league pitcher takes line drive off his face, collapses, and convulses on the mound before being hospitalized – but doctors say he’s in stable condition
- WARNING: Graphic content
- Durham Bulls reliever Tyler Zombro was kept overnight at Duke University Hospital and remains in stable condition after taking a line drive off his face
- Zombro was hit by a liner from Norfolk’s Brett Cumberland in the eighth. He then collapsed and began convulsing as frightened teammates watched in horror
- Cumberland took a knee near first base while Zombro was tended to, and other players did the same across the field, many of them praying
- He’s in stable condition, but is undergoing tests at Duke University Hospital
- The game was suspended in the eighth inning with Norfolk leading 12-4
In a frightening scene at a minor league baseball game in North Carolina on Thursday night, a pitcher for the Durham Bulls was struck in the face by a line drive before collapsing and convulsing on the mound.
Reliever Tyler Zombro was kept overnight at Duke University Hospital and remains in stable condition after the Triple-A Durham decided to suspend its game.
Zombro, a right-hander in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, was hit by a sharp line drive from Norfolk’s Brett Cumberland in the eighth inning. Zombro crumbled awkwardly to the ground, lay motionless for a moment face down, then began to convulse uncontrollably as teammates and a trainer rushed toward the mound.
Tyler Zombro, a right-hander in the Tampa Bay Rays system, was hit by a sharp line drive from Norfolk’s Brett Cumberland in the eighth inning of Thursday’s game, which was suspended
Zombro crumbled awkwardly to the ground, lay motionless for a moment face down, then began to convulse uncontrollably as teammates and a trainer rushed toward the mound
Zombro was seen convulsing on the mound moments after being hit by the line drive
Zombro was stretchered off the field and taken to Duke University Hospital in Durham
Cumberland took a knee near first base while Zombro was tended to, and other players did the same across the field, many of them praying. Zombro was carried off on a stretcher and taken directly to the hospital.
Wander Franco, a Rays prospect and Bulls shortstop, bent over and grimaced as he saw the aftermath of the incident.
Zombro will continue to be tested at Duke University Hospital.
‘As of this morning, Tyler remains under the care of the nurses and doctors at Duke University Hospital,’ the Rays said in a statement Friday.
‘The updates from overnight have been positive, and he remains in stable condition. We are overwhelmed by the support for Tyler and the wishes for his full and speedy recovery from fans and the baseball community alike. We will provide additional updates as he progresses.’
The 26-year-old Zombro signed as a minor league free agent with Tampa Bay in 2017 after going undrafted out of George Mason. He was appearing in his ninth game this season with the Bulls, entering the night 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA. He has a 2.79 ERA in his minor league career.
The game was suspended in the eighth inning with Norfolk leading 12-4.
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