DURHAM, N.C. — Minor league pitcher Tyler Zombro was struck in the head by a line drive and began convulsing on the mound in a frightening moment that prompted Triple-A Durham to suspend its game Thursday night.
Zombro, a right-hander in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, was struck by a sharp line drive hit by Norfolk’s Brett Cumberland in the eighth inning. Zombro crumbled awkwardly to the ground, lay motionless for a moment face down, then began to shake uncontrollably as teammates and a trainer rushed toward the mound.
Cumberland took a knee near first base while Zombro was tended to, and other players did the same across the field, many of them praying. WRAL-TV reported that Zombro was taken off on a stretcher.
The 26-year-old Zombro signed as a minor league free agent with Tampa Bay in 2017 after going undrafted out of George Mason. He was appearing in his ninth game this season with the Bulls, entering the night 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA.
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