Luis Salazar, a minor league manager in the Atlanta Braves organization lost his left eye this week, six days after being struck in the face by a foul ball during a Braves Spring Training game. Although Salazar lost his eye, he is fortunate to be alive after a ball hit by Brian McCann knocked him unconscious for about 20 minutes and gave him multiple facial fractures.

Originally, it looked like the injury might be fatal, but Salazar was airlifted to the hospital and had multiple surgeries performed. Miraculously, Salazar didn’t suffer any brain damage following the incident.

Brian McCann, who hit the foul ball, was visibly shaken after the incident. When the game resumed, he continued his at-bat but just got in the batters box to take strike three. Following the conclusion of the at-bat, McCann headed to the clubhouse and left the ballpark for the hospital. When speaking about the incident, McCann said, “You feel hopeless.”

Braves coach Eddie Perez has spent a lot of time in the hospital with Salazar, and the Braves organization clearly seems shaken by the incident.

Salazar was talking to Braves centerfielder Nate McLouth when the ball was hit. McCann managed to pull the ball all the way into the first base dugout (despite being a lefty) and Salazar was unable to react in time. The impact knocked him off his feet and he fell on the hard dugout floor (there is a small rubber layer to prevent slipping, but it doesn’t provide much cushion).

During yesterday’s Spring Training game against the Red Sox, McLouth seemed somewhat shaken when Buster Olney asked him about the incident. The Braves have announced that Salazar still plans on managing their High-A Lynchburg affiliate in the coming season, but he will likely be able to take his time getting back into the game.

A major league pitcher back in the 1980’s and early 90’s, Salazar is in his first season with the Braves.

While the MLB season is just kicking into gear, what happens to Luis Salazar is a good reminder that baseball is just a game and there are many more important things to worry about. Although baseball has taken measures to protect its coaches in recent years, more may need to be done to prevent serious injury on the sidelines.

Used with permission of the author.

Along with contributing to Sports Climax, Brett Kettyle is the Atlanta Braves Community Leader on Bleacher Report and maintains a Braves column for MTR Media. Follow Brett on Twitter.

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