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Is Tyler Zombro OK? Durham Bulls pitcher collapses on the field after ball strikes him on the head

Bulls announce game against Norfolk Tides suspended after incident, leading Zombro to be taken to hospital

The Durham Bulls have announced that their game against the Norfolk Tides has been suspended on Thursday, June 3. The suspension was called after relief pitcher Tyler Zombro was hit on the head in the eighth inning, leading to him being hospitalized. Shortly after the announcement, prayers have poured in for Zombro via social media, as many hope he makes a full recovery.

Fans and other teams are hoping to avoid any further tragedy to the baseball community this year. In January, MLB legend Hank Aaron passed away at 86. Days prior to that, 22-year-old Ben Jordan died. The young University of Kentucky player played both baseball and basketball. Thankfully there haven't been any major injuries on the field this season, which is why Zombro's incident is drawing a lot of attention.

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The former Montgomery Biscuits player is widely seen as a prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays. There's not a lot we know at the moment, but here's the latest to catch you up.

What happened to Zombro?

During the eighth inning of the game, the right-hander was hit by a sharp line drive by Brett Cumberland. The ball smashed into Zombro's head, leading to him collapsing on the ground face-down. He then began convulsing as players and a trainer rushed to the mound. As medics arrived, Cumberland and other players took a knee, and many began praying. A stretcher took Zombro off the field and to a local medical facility. 

The Bulls later tweeted that "Tonight’s game has been suspended in the 8th inning after Bulls pitcher Tyler Zombro was hit by a batted ball."

That tweet was followed by another, with an update. Reportedly, Zombro was taken to Duke University Hospital in Durham. The Tampa Bay Rays statement, which was shared by the Bulls said Zombro was "stable". It added, "he is undergoing further treatment and observation." There was no information provided on the extent of the injury and when he would be released from the hospital, but the statement said, "additional updates will be provided as they become available."

There's been no word on Zombro's condition from his family or manager either, so at the moment all we know is from the Rays statement. This is how social media reacted to the news. 

Thoughts, prayers, and support flow from Twitter

The Memphis Redbirds tweeted, "Thinking about Tyler, his family, and your entire team tonight. Memphis has your back." The Indianapolis Indians said, "Our thoughts are with Tyler and you guys. Here’s to a quick recovery."

Greg Brown, the Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster said, "A good friend & his wife were in attendance at Durham Bulls game tonight. He said it's the worst injury he's ever witnessed. A horrible, grisly scene. Praying for Tyler Zombro." Fellow player Brandon Withers tweeted, "Please send prayers up for Tyler, Mo, and the the rest of the Zombro family. One of the greatest humans in the world. Love you brother, @T_Zombro24."

Anchor Tyler Feldman said about the incident, "The video is absolutely terrifying. Praying for Tyler Zombro right now." Another person commented, "Baseball tweets don't usually take my breath away, but this one did. And it's terrifying. Let's all hope that Tyler Zombro is going to be ok."

Several users have also called on people to stop sharing the video on social media, which has triggered a few users. The Rays have promised more updates soon, so we should better understand Zombro's condition in the coming hours and days. But for now, thoughts and prayers are the need of the hour.