NEW YORK - Masahiro Tanaka left the field at Yankee Stadium needing two trainers to steady him after taking a line drive to the head Saturday. The ball, hit by slugger Giancarlo Stanton, hit Tanaka on the right side of his head during live batting practice. The Japanese right-hander immediately crumbled to the dirt on the mound, Stanton and catcher Kyle Higashioka rushed to him, followed quickly by four trainers.
Tanaka lie on his left side for five minutes motionless as his teammates stood around the mound, Stanton visibly upset pacing nearby. The trainers sat him up and conducted an on-site concussion test before getting him up and walking him off the field.
The Yankees announced about an hour later that Tanaka was "alert, responsive and walking under his own power."
The team sent the veteran righty to New York-Presbyterian Hospital for further evaluation and testing.
Saturday was the first official day of Yankees' workouts at the stadium as MLB tries to restart a 2020 baseball season that was shut down three months before by the coronavirus pandemic.
The atmosphere was light as the team was just starting batting practice. Music pumped over the stadium sound system and teammates tried to follow social distancing recommendations as they tried to find some kind of normal on the field.
Tanaka was facing his third batter of the day, the second time he faced Stanton. He did not use a protective screen, as most pitchers prefer not to simulate game-like pitching.
The music shut off as Tanaka lie on the mound and a pall fell over the field. After Tanaka left the field, the protective screen was wheeled out to the mound. Jordan Montgomery took the mound to finish pitching live batting practice with a somber mood falling over the stadium.