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Royals’ top draft pick had brain surgery

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Rare is the athlete who has not overcome some type of injury. More uncommon is the injury A.J. Puckett, introduced Monday as the Kansas City Royals’ top draft selection, and his family had to confront.

In the summer between his high school sophomore and junior years, Puckett required emergency brain surgery for an accident that occurred as a passenger in a car driving in San Diego. A couple a friends were “fisting and fighting, according to Puckett,” and a blow caught him in the head.

“Wrong spot at the wrong time,” Puckett said.