LAKELAND, Fla. — Baseball is generally not a sport that induces gasps of fright and worry in the paying customers. Except when it does.
Toronto pitching prospect T.J. House took a line drive off his head on Friday afternoon, and the sickening thud of the ball off the player preceded a stunned silence at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.
The ball, off the bat of Detroit Tigers catcher John Hicks, hit House so hard that it rocketed at least 20 feet in the air — and was caught for an out by Toronto catcher Mike Ohlman, who then ran to the fallen pitcher and immediately signalled for medical help.