Lasko undergoes spinal surgery after outfield collision
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- Ryan Lasko underwent spinal decompression and stabilization surgery for a C6-C7 vertebra fracture sustained when he collided head-first at full speed with right fielder Devin Taylor while attempting a diving catch in center field for the Double-A Midland RockHounds on Tuesday.
- Lasko currently has no feeling in his lower half because of swelling in his spine, according to MLB.com, though there is hope he will regain sensation over time.
- Devin Taylor quickly got up to pursue the ball after the collision and escaped without major injury; Lasko remained motionless on the ground and was stretchered off to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano.
- A's GM David Forst praised the on-field response of Midland athletic trainers Noah Huff and Audy Merrick, the Frisco RoughRiders, and paramedics, while player development director Ed Sprague traveled to be with Lasko and counseling will be made available to players.
- Lasko, 24, was the No. 41 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft and was ranked as the A's 23rd-best prospect by Baseball America entering this season, praised for his "high-energy, frenetic play style."
Why it matters: Lasko, a 2023 first-round talent ranked among the A's top 25 prospects, faces an uncertain recovery timeline because spinal swelling—not the fracture itself—is currently causing his lack of sensation. The incident also spotlights the inherent collision risk outfielders absorb on full-speed dives and the A's broader obligation to support teammates shaken by the scene.
