Triple-A Durham pitcher Tyler Zombro was hit in the head with a line drive in the eighth inning of Thursday night’s game, taken off the field on a stretcher and transported by ambulance to Duke University Hospital.
On Friday, the Rays, Durham’s MLB team, provided an update on Zombro’s condition:
“As of this morning, Tyler remains under the care of the nurses and doctors at Duke University Hospital. 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 Bulls’ game against Norfolk at Durham Bulls Athletic Park was called.
On a 1-2 pitch, Tides catcher Brett Cumberland hit a comebacker off the side of Zombro’s head. The 26-year-old right-hander fell to the ground and was quickly surrounded by concerned teammates, coaches and the team trainer.
Medical personnel were called in and Zombro’s wife, Moriah, who was in the ballpark, was escorted onto the field. Zombro was put onto a stretcher and rushed off the field to a waiting ambulance beyond the outfield fence. Zombro’s teammates huddled in concern while Cumberland looked on from first base.
The umpires suspended the game with Norfolk leading Durham, 12-4, but it was later deemed official.
Zombro has been in the Rays organization since 2017. He has an 11-4 record with a 2.79 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 177 1/3 innings in the Minor Leagues.