This is the horrifying moment Miami Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers was drilled in the back of the head by his own catcher on Saturday afternoon.
Weathers was the team’s starting pitcher against the Tampa Bay Rays, and had just finished his warm-up before first pitch when disaster struck.
After throwing his final pitch ahead of the the game, he began to walk off the mound, only to be hit in the head by his own catcher Nick Fortes attempting a throw to second.
The shocking moment left the home plate umpire open-mouthed, as medics rushed to Weathers’ aid after he dropped to the ground.
Fortes was attempting a typical throw to second base – with a player waiting there to receive it – but it appears there was a miscommunication between the pitcher and catcher.
Weathers, incredibly, was deemed to be okay to pitch in the game, and he went on to throw a scoreless first inning against the Rays.
Ryan Weathers is hit in the head by a throw from his own catcher Nick Fortes before the game
A trainer rushes to help Weathers after he fell to the mound after being hit in the head
Despite the incident, Weathers was still able to pitch – and he lasted three innings of the game
He went on to toss three innings, giving up three earned runs with a walk and a strikeout to his name.
Speaking to local radio after the game, Weathers confirmed he was ‘good’, before adding: ‘It was definitely a first. Obviously it’s just unfortunate, but also fortunate that it hit me in the top of the head and not the back of the head.
When asked about Fortes being visibly shaken by the moment, he said: ‘I just told him, “I’m fine, I’m still going to go to battle with you, it’s not going to change that fact.” It was just one of those weird games.’
The Marlins went on to win the game 11-10 in extra innings, moving the team to a 24-38 record for the season.
The Rays, meanwhile, are 34-30 and third in the AL East.
