Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Thursday, May 2, 2024 80° Today's Paper


Top News

Jays reliever TJ House hit on head by line drive

1/1
Swipe or click to see more

COURTESY NICK BRZEZINSKI VIA AP

Players and staff watch as Toronto Blue Jays reliever T.J. House is tended to by emergency personnel after he was struck in the head by a line drive during a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers today in Lakeland, Fla. House was talking before the ambulance left the field, Toronto manager John Gibbons said.

LAKELAND, Fla. >> Toronto Blue Jays reliever T.J. House was taken off the field in an ambulance Friday after being hit on the head by a line drive in the ninth inning of a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers.

The Blue Jays said Friday night that test results at Lakeland Regional Medical Center were normal, and that House would remain hospitalized overnight for observation.

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said House’s injury was among the scariest things he has witnessed in a baseball game.

“When I went out there, his face was in his glove,” Ausmus said. “There was blood on his face, blood in the glove — everything.”

The pitcher was hit on the back of the head by a ball off the bat of John Hicks. The ball ricocheted about 30 feet into the air before being caught by catcher Mike Ohlman.

“Before he even caught it, people were signaling for the trainers to come out. You could tell the infielders were shaken by what they saw,” said Nick Brzezinski, who works for the Blue Jays’ Class A Lansing Lugnuts and was watching from along the first-base line.

House fell to his stomach and was face down on the mound for nearly 20 minutes while being tended to by trainers. House was put onto a stretcher and gave a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was placed into an ambulance and taken to the hospital.

Toronto manager John Gibbons said the 27-year-old House was talking and had feeling in all of his extremities.

“I couldn’t get near him,” Gibbons said. “They were working on him. It’s scary, you know. He was talking, he could feel everything, so, hopefully, that’s a good sign.”

The game was called with Toronto ahead 6-2, with a runner on first and one out in the ninth.

By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the Terms of Service. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our guidelines. Having trouble with comments? Learn more here.