Rays minor leaguer Tyler Zombro in stable condition after being hit by line drive

DURHAM, N.C. — Minor league pitcher Tyler Zombro is in stable condition after being struck in the head by a line drive Thursday night, a frightening scene that prompted the Triple-A Durham Bulls to suspend its game against the Norfolk Tides.

Zombro, a right-hander in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, was hit by a sharp line drive from Norfolk’s Brett Cumberland in the eighth inning. Zombro crumbled awkwardly to the ground, lay motionless for a moment face down, then began to convulse uncontrollably as teammates and a trainer rushed toward the mound.

Zombro was taken to Duke University Hospital in Durham and the Rays said in a statement Friday morning that "updates from overnight have been positive, and he remains in stable condition."

"We are overwhelmed by the support for Tyler and the wishes for his full and speedy recovery from fans and the baseball community alike," the minor-league club s

Cumberland took a knee near first base while Zombro was tended to, and other players did the same across the field, many of them praying.  

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The 26-year-old Zombro signed as a minor league free agent with Tampa Bay in 2017 after going undrafted out of George Mason. He was appearing in his ninth game this season with the Bulls, entering the night 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA.