NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The batting coach for the Tulsa Drillers was pronounced dead at a hospital Sunday evening after being struck in the head by a line drive as he stood in the first-base coach's box during a Texas League game with the Arkansas Travelers, police said.
The game was suspended in the ninth inning after Mike Coolbaugh was hit by a hard-hit foul ball off the bat of Tino Sanchez and taken to Baptist Medical Center-North Little Rock.
Phil Elson, spokesman for the Travelers, said Coolbaugh was struck by the ball on the right side of his head, or on the forehead — "I'm getting conflicting reports" — and fell to the ground immediately.
According to a report posted on the Drillers' Web site late Sunday, Coolbaugh was knocked unconscious and CPR was administered to him on the field.
I'll be honest with you, I'm surprised this hasn't happened more often. The coaches don't wear protective helmets, and they aren't always focusing their attention on the batter. The balls come whistling off the bats of players at that level (especially if they're using aluminum bats) and I'm surprised there haven't been more serious or fatal injuries among players both on the field or in the dugout.
Former Angel player Matt Keogh's career was ended when he was hit in the head by a line drive while sitting in the Angel's dugout at Anaheim Stadium.
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