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Odd and painful moment tonight in Anaheim. Angels hitting coach Don Baylor, who is 64, suffered a broken femur — that's a major thigh bone — on the field before the team's opening game of the season. He was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center and will have surgery on Tuesday.
Baylor was taking part in what was supposed to be a special moment for Angels fans. The team signed former star outfielder Vladimir Guerrero to a one-game contract so he could officially retire from baseball today as a member of the Angels. Guerrero was introduced and feted and took the pitching mound to throw the ceremonial first pitch. His throw was in the dirt, and when the crouching Baylor shifted his weight to scoop up the ball, his femur bone snapped. Video shows Baylor struggling to get up as Guerrero catches on that something is wrong and rushes toward the plate. Baylor collapsed while trying to walk before the Angels medical crew moved onto the field to help.
Baylor was about to begin his first season back with the Angels after coaching most recently with the Arizona Diamondbacks. In the game, the Angels' Mike Trout homered in his first at-bat of the season but the Angeles lost 10-3 to Seattle.
INJURY UPDATE - Don Baylor sustained a fractured right femur. The Halos batting coach will have surgery tomorrow.
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 1, 2014Photo: Screen grab from MLB.com
