A Triple-A International League game between Mets and Blue Jays affiliates on Friday night was halted after a scary moment where a catcher was taken to the hospital after he took a swing to the head.
With the host Syracuse Mets batting with the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning at NBT Bank Stadium, third baseman Pablo Reyes took a big cut, with his backswing hitting Buffalo Bisons catcher Payton Henry on the left side and back of the head.
Henry immediately went down to the dirt, lying down and facing up toward the sky as he was quickly attended to.
He was helped by a Buffalo trainer and manager Casey Candaele, who both signaled to get more help.
His Buffalo teammates waited on the infield, going down to one knee as they looked on in concern.
Henry was eventually carted off the field, and not long after that, it was announced the game — by a decision between the umpires and the league — was considered completed after seven innings.
After conferencing with the umpires and talking on his phone, Syracuse general manager Jason Smorol took the microphone and addressed the crowd.
“Just got word from the umpires and league, the game is going to be canceled at this point, it is a complete game,” Smorol said. “We’ll end at this point, and our thoughts and prayers are going to go out to Payton Henry as he is en route to the hospital right now.”
Henry, according to the Bisons, is “alert and responsive” after being taken to a local hospital in Central New York.
“Payton Henry has been taken to a Syracuse area hospital where he is being evaluated. Payton is currently alert and appropriately responsive. We will share any further information as it becomes available.”
Henry, 26, is in his first year with the Blue Jays organization and is hitting .244 with three homers and a .704 OPS this year.
He was 0-for-3 before the injury.
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