Ump hit in head by splintered bat
Layne had to leave game in 4th inning
CINCINNATI – The barrel of a broken bat hit plate umpire Jerry Layne on the left side of the head Friday night, forcing him to leave a game between the Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds in the fourth inning.
Layne, a 23-year veteran, was checked by Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek at Great American Ball Park and taken to a hospital for tests to make sure he didn’t break any bones on the side of his face.
“There was no cuts or anything like that,” said Randy Marsh, MLB’s director of umpiring. “Dr. Kremchek checked him out. Not sure if there’s a concussion. – doesn’t think he was concussed – but he has a very sore face.”
Marsh, who was at the game, talked to Layne after he left the field. Layne was expected to get X-rays and an MRI at the hospital.
Devin Mesoraco’s bat cracked as he hit a grounder off Minnesota’s Nick Blackburn. The barrel came off on Mesoraco’s follow-through and hit Layne on the side of the head, which isn’t protected by the mask.
Layne stumbled for a couple steps, then fell on his back and remained on the ground on his chest for several minutes.
Second base umpire Bob Davidson took his place behind the plate and a reserve umpire will help with the last two games of the series.