Ryan Lasko was in stable condition after back surgery Tuesday night. The 24-year-old Athletics prospect stayed motionless on the field after a collision in a Double-A game in Frisco, Texas.
The surgery addressed a fractured C6-C7 vertebra. Dr. Jonathan Poggi performed a spinal decompression and stabilization operation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano.
Frisco collision and surgery
Lasko and Devin Taylor dived into each other while trying to catch a flyball. The play ended with Lasko motionless on the field, and he later underwent surgery the same night.
He is an outfielder with Double-A Midland. The move from the field to surgery center-left no room for delay; the medical response focused on stabilizing the injury before the next step in his recovery could even begin.
David Forst on the response
David Forst said he had been in touch with Lasko's mother, Patti, to pass along support from the organization. He also said, "We are incredibly grateful to Noah Huff and Audy Merrick, our athletic trainers in Midland, for their on-field actions last night, as well as to the Frisco RoughRiders and the paramedics on the scene."
Forst added, "We are encouraged by the reports and updates from Dr. Poggi, and we will continue to put all of the resources of our medical staff towards supporting Ryan and his recovery." Ed Sprague was traveling to Frisco, and counseling would be available to players.
Ryan Lasko's season
The injury came during a season in which Lasko was batting.209 with six homers, 34 RBI and a.635 OPS for Midland. He was selected by the Athletics in the second round of the 2023 amateur draft out of Rutgers.
Last year, he appeared in 13 games at Triple-A Las Vegas and played 21 games in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted.357 with nine stolen bases. The immediate question now is how his recovery will progress after surgery for a fractured vertebra, because that timetable will shape when he can return to any baseball activity.
