Beaned coach is okay, report says

Times wires
Wednesday, March 9, 2011

KISSIMMEE — Braves minor-league manager Luis Salazar was awake and able to respond to doctors Wednesday after being hit in the face by Brian McCann's foul liner while standing near the dugout during a game.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Salazar had multiple facial fractures and an eye surgeon was examining him to determine the extent of the damage to his left eye. Braves general manager Frank Wren did not have a report from the hospital on Salazar's condition.

Salazar, 54, was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center and expected to remain there overnight.

"We are just blessed that Luis is alive," Wren said. "The scans so far have been positive. … There is an eye surgeon looking at it now. It was a freak accident.

"He was unable to speak when the paramedics arrived. We were very concerned when he was on his way to the hospital, but we feel a little bit better now."

Wren said Salazar was unconscious when an ambulance drove onto the field in the first inning to help the former big-leaguer. Wren said Salazar was hit around the nose, toward his left eye.

"That was the worst thing I have ever seen on the field," Braves star Chipper Jones said. "He wasn't awake at all. He was out of it. I just looked at him to see if he was breathing. I thought his life might be in danger."

The game was delayed nearly 20 minutes while medical personnel tended to Salazar.

FELLER TRIBUTE: A public memorial service for Indians Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller is March 31 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Feller was 92 when he died Dec. 15.

ADD AN "S": Angels first baseman Kendry Morales revealed that his actual name is Kendrys Morales. The Los Angeles Times said Morales "just never bothered to correct it" when the "s" was left off the contract he signed in 2004.

RELIEVER RETIRES: Right-hander Brendan Donnelly, 39, announced his retirement after nine seasons. A key setup man for the Angels for much of the decade, he finished with a 3.22 ERA and 369 strikeouts in 3851/3 innings.

EX-NFL PLAYER RETIRES: Former NFL player Pat White told the Royals he is retiring from baseball. White, 26, signed a minor-league contract with Kansas City after being released by the Dolphins in September.

DODGERS: Right-hander Jon Garland left his start with pain in his left side. There was no diagnosis.

MARLINS: Rightfielder Mike Stanton, out with a strained right quadriceps, may be 10 days away from playing in a spring game.

METS: Left-hander Oliver Perez was removed from competition for a starting spot after a poor outing Tuesday and will be considered for a bullpen role.

RANGERS: Right-hander Brandon Webb, coming back from 2009 shoulder surgery, threw to hitters for the first time this spring and said he felt good.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/beaned-coach-is-okay-report-says/1156333

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