Hunter Wendelstedt was able to walk off the field with medical staff at his side. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
MLB umpire Hunter Wendelstedt was able to walk off the field Monday after taking a line drive to his head while working first base during the game between the Minnesota Twins and New York Mets.
The incident took place in the seventh inning, with Minnesota holding a 3-0 lead. Mets outfielder Tyrone Taylor hit a line drive down the first-base line that hit Wendelstedt in the head and sent him falling to the ground.
Replay shows that the ball hit Wendelstedt on the left side of his head.
Trainers immediately tended to Wendelstedt as he remained face down on the ground. He was eventually able to stand up and walk off the field with medical staff at his side. He did not return to the game.
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MLB released the following statement: “Hunter is undergoing additional tests in Minneapolis, and we are encouraged that he was in good spirits when he was in touch with our medical staff. We will continue to monitor his status.”
Second-base umpire Adam Hamari moved to first, and a three-man crew finished the game, which the Twins won 4-3 in 10 innings.
Umpires not working home plate are not required to wear helmets. Details of Wendelstedt’s condition weren’t immediately clear after the game. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters he “heard” Wendelstedt was “fine.”
“I heard he’s fine,” Mendoza said. “That was scary. Briefly, I asked, as soon as the game was over. Every time you see something like that, it’s just scary.
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“So I’m glad that he’s doing well. Just praying for him.”
Wendelstedt, 53, is a veteran umpire working his 28th MLB season. He worked the 2014 World Series.