Home-plate ump exits with injury after foul tip

Scott removed on stretcher after ball hits face mask

April 15th, 2017

TORONTO -- Home-plate umpire Dale Scott has been diagnosed with a concussion after being struck in the mask by a foul tip and leaving the field on a stretcher in the eighth inning of the Orioles' 6-4 win over the Blue Jays on Friday night.
Scott was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he will continue to be evaluated. He will be out for the remainder of the series, which has two weekend games remaining. The veteran umpire most recently suffered a concussion in July 2016 after being struck by a foul tip in a game between the D-backs and Dodgers.
"Oh my gosh, I think it's just a reminder of the challenges physically and the risks taken every night by a catcher and umpires," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said after the game. "I know Dale had some concussions last year, and I'm going to head over to the locker room to see if they've got any news. That one didn't sound good."
Trainers from both teams attended to Scott before EMS personnel were called onto the field, and they were soon joined by a medical cart and team doctors. Scott appeared to be conscious and moving before he was stabilized on the field.
The hard foul tip off the bat of caught Scott at the bottom of his mask. Scott was initially knocked back to his knees by the ball before the trainers had him lay flat for further medical attention. Second-base umpire Brian Knight took over home plate duties following the stoppage in play.
"He's one of the good guys," said Toronto manager John Gibbons. "He works hard. Umpires are vulnerable out there, too. Just like the catchers."
In August 2013, Scott was also forced to leave a Toronto game in a similar situation after taking a foul tip off the mask from .
Scott is in his 31st year as a Major League umpire. He has worked three World Series (1998, 2001, 2004) and was behind the plate for the fifth game of Toronto's '15 American League Division Series vs. the Rangers, best known for Bautista's bat flip.