WEST SACRAMENTO – While the Athletics prepared for their series finale against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Sutter Health Park, they did so with heavy hearts after learning of a scary incident involving Minor League outfielder Ryan Lasko.
While playing center field for Double-A Midland on Tuesday night in Frisco, Texas, Lasko was critically injured after he collided with right fielder Devin Taylor while attempting to dive for a ball hit in the gap. Lasko remained down for about 10 minutes before getting carted off the field and taken to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, where he underwent spinal decompression and stabilization surgery resulting from a C6-C7 vertebra fracture.
Lasko, rated the A’s No. 18 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is in stable condition. At this time, he has no feeling in his lower half. Dr. Jonathan Poggi, who performed the surgery, said there is hope that Lasko will regain feeling in the lower half of his body, though that is expected to take a significant amount of time.
“The positive in the statement from the doctor is that there is not a definitive statement saying he’s not going to regain feeling in his lower half,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We send prayers to him, to his family, to his teammate, and the team, really. This is a trying and emotional time for them. We need to be there to support them, and I know we are. [A’s director of player development] Ed Sprague flew down [to Texas] this morning. Lasko’s family was with him there. All the teammates are going to go visit him at some point and show support.”
A’s general manager David Forst released the following statement Wednesday morning regarding Lasko’s injury:
"I've been in touch with Ryan's mom, Patti, to pass along the organization's support and to let her know that all of us, throughout our system, have them in our thoughts and prayers. We are incredibly grateful to Noah Huff and Audy Merrick, our athletic trainers in Midland, for their on-field actions last night, as well as to the Frisco RoughRiders and the paramedics on the scene. We are encouraged by the reports and updates from Dr. Poggi, and we will continue to put all of the resources of our medical staff towards supporting Ryan and his recovery. Ed Sprague, Director of Player Development, will be arriving in Frisco shortly, and our mental health professionals will be available to the Midland players to make sure they receive any help they need.
We ask that you respect the privacy of the Lasko family and our players at this time. We will provide medical updates as they become available."
Lasko, 24, was a second-round pick by the A’s in the 2023 MLB Draft out of Rutgers University. He spent some time with the A’s this spring in big league camp, where he impressed Kotsay and the rest of the A’s coaching staff with his defense, which has been touted as elite by scouts.
“He’s a competitor,” Kotsay said. “He’s emotional. Both of those things, I can vividly recall just being around him. And then just his passion for baseball. … The biggest thing we can all do is hope and pray that he recovers the feeling in his lower half and always be there to support him.”
Lin undergoes Tommy John surgery
A’s No. 4 prospect Wei-En Lin underwent successful surgery on Tuesday with Dr. Neal ElAttrache to reconstruct his left ulnar collateral ligament. The 20-year-old left-hander, who began the season at Double-A Midland before getting promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas and combined for a 3.23 ERA in 12 starts with 54 strikeouts in 53 innings across the two levels, will rehab in Arizona with the A’s player development medical staff.
The club is hopeful that Lin can return to the mound at some point during the second half of the 2027 season.