Home plate umpire Paul Emmel was hit in the head with a bat during the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels game Thursday night.
The incident happened during the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs. Angels pinch hitter Jefry Marte was at the plate when the bat slipped out of his hands after he swung at a pitch and hit Emmel in the head, according to ESPN.
Emmel’s head was bleeding as he fell to his knees after the hit. Athletics catcher Stephen Vogt called for the trainers immediately after Emmel was struck.
“It sounded like someone hit a ball off the end of the bat,” Vogt said. “You could hear the bat hitting his head. I turned around and he was down and I saw the blood. It was gushing pretty good.”
Angels manager Mike Scioscia told reporters, “It seems like he’s going to be OK. It’s scary, no doubt. Those guys don’t have a skull cap, that bat goes flying, and unfortunately, it got him tonight.”
Emmel left the game after the hit and was taken to a local hospital to get stitches. The game finished with the three remaining umpires and Quinn Wolcott moved from third base to behind the plate.
The Athletics won the game 5-4.