Scary moment MLB umpire is hit in the HEAD by a powerful throw from the outfield during the Yankees-Guardians game – before being helped off the field
- Larry Vanover was the second base umpire for the Yankees-Guardians game
- He was caught in the head by a powerful throw from Andres Gimenez in the fifth
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This is the terrifying moment when an MLB second base umpire is drilled in the head by a powerful pitch from the outfield during the Yankees-Guardians game.
Larry Vanover led the game at Progressive Field on Wednesday afternoon, but got more than he bargained for when Cleveland attempted to field a ball that was nearly hit for a home run.
After Kyle Higashioka hit the ball deep to center field, the Guardians’ Andres Gimenez tried to get the man at home plate out to save a point, but instead managed to find the umpire’s head.
In scary scenes, Vanover immediately fell to the ground, and his hat and sunglasses both came off.
Play continued, with the Yankees scoring two runs, before the camera pulled back to Vanover as he gingerly got back to his feet in the middle of the field.
Andre Gimenez throws the ball in an attempt to get the man out of home plate – but it goes wrong
The umpire on second base gets in the way and takes a powerful blow to the side of his head
The official – Larry Vanover – hits the ground immediately after being hit by the ball
Help immediately rushed his way and he was led off the field to receive medical attention, but appeared to be fine in the immediate aftermath.
The incident was just the latest in a series of bizarre moments in the Yankees-Guardians game, after New York manager Aaron Boone was previously thrown out for disagreeing with an umpire.
The Yankees thought Clarke Schmidt got them out of trouble in the bottom of the first inning after Aaron Hicks caught a ball in the outfield, but the action was reversed after an – apparently belated – challenge from the Guardians bench.
Managers have 15 seconds to complete a challenge, and Boone insisted the Guardians missed that opportunity.
Earlier in the game, Aaron Boone was ejected from the game for arguing over a review call