Veteran MLB umpire Hunter Wendelstedt was rushed to a hospital on Wednesday afternoon after a frightening incident during the Minnesota Twins’ 4-3 victory over the New York Mets. Wendelstedt, a seasoned umpire in his 28th season, was struck directly in the face by a scorching line drive foul ball while positioned behind first base in the seventh inning.
The ball, hit by Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor, struck Wendelstedt so suddenly and solidly that players and officials immediately expressed visible concern. Both Taylor and Twins pitcher Louis Varland winced the moment they saw the impact, and the game came to a halt as medical personnel rushed to the umpire’s side. Wendelstedt lay on the ground for a couple of minutes while being attended to by Twins medical staff before eventually getting up and walking off under his own power, holding a towel to the left side of his face.
Crew chief Todd Tichenor, who was behind home plate for the game, provided an update afterward, saying Wendelstedt was “coherent and speaking” but would go through a full concussion protocol. Tichenor remained hopeful that Wendelstedt’s injuries would only require stitches but stressed that additional tests were underway.
“We are encouraged that he was in good spirits when he was in touch with our medical staff,” Major League Baseball said in a statement. “We will continue to monitor his status.”
The incident rattled everyone at Target Field. Tichenor admitted it was a scary moment for the entire crew and players alike. “It made us all stop and think,” he said. “That hit him solid in the head. It was scary.”
After Wendelstedt’s departure, second base umpire Adam Hamari shifted over to cover first base, and the game continued with a three-man crew. However, the tone around the ballpark remained somber.
“It happened so fast,” said Twins first baseman Ty France. “Just praying for a speedy recovery for him because you never want to see something like that happen.”
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli echoed the sentiment. “I would like to wish him the best and say we’re all thinking about him,” Baldelli said. “I was glad to see him walk off the field under his own power. That was better than the alternative. We hope he’s OK.”
The accident also revived discussions about safety protocols for on-field personnel. Since 2008, Major League Baseball has required base coaches to wear helmets after minor league coach Mike Coolbaugh tragically died from a line drive to the neck. However, Tichenor, when asked, said he did not believe umpires needed to start wearing helmets, calling Wendelstedt’s injury an unfortunate and rare occurrence.
“This one was just 100 mph off the bat. We’re taught to go opposite the ball. He just went into the ball. It happens. We all do it,” Tichenor said. “It just doesn’t hit him in the head usually.”
As Wendelstedt undergoes further evaluation and recovery, the baseball world is united in hoping for his swift return to full health.
