Thursday’s Triple-A game between the Norfolk Tides and Durham Bulls was called in the eighth inning after Bulls pitcher Tyler Zombro was hit in the head by a line drive.
Zombro, a 26-year-old reliever for the Tampa Bay Rays affiliate, appeared to be convulsing on the mound before being taken off the field on a stretcher as his teammates looked on.
In a statement after the game was called, the Rays said Zombro was transported to Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, where he was in stable condition and undergoing further treatment and observation.
The team said additional updates would be released when they become available.
The Tides led 12-4 when Zombro entered in the top of the eighth inning. Brett Cumberland, the first batter Zombro faced, lined a 1-2 fastball up the middle that struck Zombro in the face. The right-hander immediately fell to the ground, and his feet appeared to be shaking as an athletic trainer rushed to him.
The game was initially suspended with Norfolk leading 12-4, but was later considered to be completed early.
Zombro has been in the Rays organization since 2017, when he signed as an undrafted free agent out of George Mason. He has a 3.18 ERA this season and 2.79 career ERA in the minors.