Former Rutgers outfielder Ryan Lasko is in stable condition after a frightening collision in a minor league game left him with a fracture to his C6-C7 vertebra and, according to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay, without feeling in the lower half of his body.
Lasko, who was playing for Double-A Midland in the Athletics’ system, underwent spinal decompression and stabilization surgery after the injury. MLB.com’s Martin Gallego reported that the surgery came after the vertebra fracture, and Kotsay said the lack of feeling is tied to “swelling in his spine.”
“There is hope that the feeling comes back,” Kotsay said.
The injury happened in the bottom of the third inning Tuesday night in Texas, when Midland faced the Frisco RoughRiders. Lasko and teammate Devin Taylor both went after a fly ball and collided after diving. Taylor got up to make the play, while Lasko remained motionless on the field before being carted off.
He was taken to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, where Dr. Jonathan Poggi performed the operation.
Athletics general manager David Forst said in a statement Wednesday that the organization had reached out to Lasko’s family and was keeping them in its thoughts.
“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,” Forst said. “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.”
Lasko, a Jackson native who played at Rutgers from 2021 to 2023, was drafted by the Athletics in the second round of the 2023 amateur draft. He appeared in 13 games for Triple-A Las Vegas last season and entered this year batting .209 with six home runs, 34 RBIs and a .635 OPS for Midland.
In Other News...
Rutgers Finally Looks Built To Survive The Big Ten Grind
Rutgers is heading into the season with a roster that looks more stable than it has in a while, and that matters in a Big Ten that tends to expose any thin spots by January. Steve Pikiell has most of his core back from last season, giving the Scarlet Knights a familiar base to build around, while the program has also added veteran help to address the kind of depth and size issues that can wear teams down over a league schedule.
Christian Gurdak and Will Sydnor are part of that added muscle, and players around the program have pointed to the blend of continuity and new pieces as a reason for optimism. With Tariq Francis and Lino Mark among the returning names expected to help carry the load, Rutgers is approaching the year with the kind of veteran feel that can make a long conference grind a little more manageable, and maybe more competitive than some around the league might have assumed. [Read more 🡒]