GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Second-base umpire Brad Myers was injured during the second inning of Monday's Cactus League game between the Indians and Reds.Myers took a line drive from Brandon Phillips in the groin area. He went face first into the infield grass and was down for five-plus minutes as trainers from both teams examined him. Myers then got up and tipped his hat to the crowd before being carted off.
Indians pitcher Corey Kluber didn't see the play but heard Myers say where he got struck. When asked what Myers told him, Kluber said "I'll leave that to your imagination.
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Kluber added: "They're in a vulnerable spot out there. You see a lot of times they are just able to get out of the way but that was just one of those balls that chased him."Indians manager Terry Francona said in all his years in baseball that he had never seen an umpire get hit where Myers did."I tell you I don't think I'd even watch a game without wearing a cup. That's dangerous. He got smoked," Francona said.
Myers has been an International League umpire the past three seasons and was one of a number of minor-league umps that are calling spring training games.Replay umpire John Tumpane took Myers' place on the field while umpire supervisor Randy Marsh took over on replays. Marsh ended up overturning a call during the top of the fifth on a stolen base by Brandon Phillips. On the steal of third, Phillips was originally called out.Tumpane though did not avoid getting hit either. During the eighth inning he was hit in the butt on an errant throw as Indians first baseman Joe Sever was trying to get Chris Nelson out at second."You see something new every day. I asked Joe if he (Tumpane) was in the way and he said he yanked it pretty good," Francona said.Joe Reedy/FOX Sports Ohio
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