MIAMI – Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Dalton Pompey exited Canada’s 4-1 loss to Colombia on Saturday under Major League Baseball’s concussion protocol due to mild dizziness that came after his face slammed into the dirt while stealing a base.
National team manager Ernie Whitt said the 24-year-old will be re-examined Sunday before a determination is made although it seems unlikely he’ll play against the
United States in the Pool C finale. Pompey also suffered a concussion while playing at triple-A Buffalo last season.
“If he has symptoms or no symptoms, he still has to go through the process of the concussion protocol that you have to have,” said Whitt. “So we’re taking precautions, all precautions that are necessary. But just what it is right now is deemed to be a possible mild concussion.”
Pompey hit his face on the dirt on a head-first slide while stealing second base in the sixth inning.
He immediately called time after his slide, removed his helmet and lay on his stomach for several minutes. Trainer Mike Frostad, who works with the Blue Jays, helped him up, conducted an eye test and eventually Pompey stayed in the game and played one defensive inning before leaving.
“At the end of the inning he came in, was feeling a little dizziness, so protocol, we took him out of the game,” said Whitt. “Everything on the field was done right. Mike did a nice job out there … and Pompey said he was fine and so, we go from there.”
Under the protocol, a player must go through a series of tests to be compared against his baseline before he can take the field again. Clubs must also submit a Return to Play form to MLB’s medical director for approval.
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