The Athletics were dealing with far more than a game Wednesday night at Sutter Health Park.
As they got ready for their series finale against the Dodgers in West Sacramento, the organization was also absorbing the news of a frightening injury to Minor League outfielder Ryan Lasko, who was critically hurt Tuesday night while playing center field for Double-A Midland in Frisco, Texas.
Lasko went after a ball hit into the gap and collided with right fielder Devin Taylor on a diving attempt. He stayed on the ground for about 10 minutes before being carted off and taken to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano. There, he underwent spinal decompression and stabilization surgery after suffering a C6-C7 vertebra fracture.
The A’s said Lasko, their No. 18 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, is in stable condition. He currently has no feeling in his lower half.
Dr. Jonathan Poggi, who performed the operation, said there is hope Lasko could regain that feeling, though it will 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.”
General manager David Forst also addressed the situation in a statement Wednesday morning, saying the club had been in contact with Lasko’s mother, Patti, and was keeping the family in its thoughts and prayers. Forst thanked Midland athletic trainers Noah Huff and Audy Merrick for their work on the field, along with the Frisco RoughRiders and the paramedics who responded.
He added that the organization was encouraged by updates from Dr. Poggi and would keep all of its medical resources focused on Lasko’s recovery.
Forst said Ed Sprague would arrive in Frisco shortly and that mental health professionals would be available to the Midland players.
“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 is 24 and was taken by the A’s in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Rutgers University. He also spent time in big league camp this spring, where he stood out to Kotsay and the coaching staff for his defense, which scouts have described as elite.
“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.”
The club also shared an update on another prospect, with No. 4 prospect Wei-En Lin undergoing successful surgery Tuesday with Dr. Neal ElAttrache to reconstruct his left ulnar collateral ligament.
The 20-year-old left-hander started the season at Double-A Midland before moving up to Triple-A Las Vegas, and he posted a 3.23 ERA in 12 starts with 54 strikeouts in 53 innings across the two levels. He will rehab in Arizona with the A’s player development medical staff.
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