During Sunday's game between the New York Yankees and Colorado Rockies, plate umpire Nick Mahrley had to exit in the fifth inning due to an unfortunate incident. The incident occurred when Giancarlo Stanton's bat shattered upon hitting a bloop single to left field, with a piece of the bat striking Mahrley in the neck.
The impact of the bat barrel hitting Mahrley's left side of the mask caused him to fall down immediately. New York's athletic training staff promptly attended to Mahrley, and a medic was called onto the field to provide further assistance. Eventually, Mahrley had to be helped onto a stretcher, with the crowd showing their support through applause.
Following the incident, crew chief Marvin Hudson took over the plate umpiring duties, while the second base umpire, Hunter Wendelstedt, shifted to first base. Mahrley, who is 41 years old, had transitioned to a full-time umpire last season after initially working 473 games as a callup umpire.
At the time of Mahrley's departure, the Yankees were leading the game with a score of 4-3. The game resumed with the new umpiring arrangement in place, ensuring the continuation of the match.
This incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks and challenges faced by umpires in the course of their duties on the field. The swift response and support provided to Mahrley highlight the importance of prioritizing the well-being of all individuals involved in the game.
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