MILWAUKEE -- Brewers Minor League catcher Rene Garcia was taken to Froedtert Hospital on Saturday in the wake of a home-plate collision during the ninth inning of a 5-4 win over the White Sox at Miller Park.
Brewers medical officials were concerned about Garcia's left knee in addition to his head and neck, manager Craig Counsell said. The game was delayed while emergency medical technicians secured Garcia's neck in a brace and strapped him to a stretcher for transport.
Especially painful, teammates said, was that the incident occurred in the final inning of the Brewers' final Spring Training game.
"He has good friends here. We will take care of him," said catcher Manny Pina, who preceded Garcia in the game. "He has no family here, just him. But we are family, so we will take care of him."
The White Sox tied the game on the play in question. Danny Hayes lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, and Domingo Santana's throw drew Garcia up the third-base line, where he collided with White Sox outfielder Nicky Delmonico.
As Delmonico touched home for the tying run, Garcia was on the ground near home plate.
"It's a big damper," Counsell said. "He's just trying to make a play on the ball, and he and the runner kind of got there at the same time."
The Brewers' other Major League catcher, Jett Bandy, replaced Garcia when the game resumed and had a scare of his own. He scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth after reaching base on a hit-by-pitch, just getting his shoulder up in time to deflect a Michael Ynoa pitch on its way toward Bandy's head.