Angels’ Taylor Ward Injured After Collision with Scoreboard in Win Over Astros

In a tense moment during Sunday’s game, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward was carted off the field after a frightening head-first collision with the scoreboard at Daikin Park in Houston. This incident occurred in the eighth inning of the Angels’ 3-0 victory over the Houston Astros.

Details of the Incident

As Astros second baseman Ramon Urías launched a deep ball towards the wall, Ward sprinted back in an attempt to make the catch. Unfortunately, he turned and crashed into the metal scoreboard, landing hard on the ground as the ball rolled away.

Despite quickly getting back to his feet, Ward was visibly injured, calling for assistance with blood flowing from a cut above his right eye. He was eventually taken off the field on a cart and transported to a local hospital.

Team and Player Reactions

Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery addressed the situation, confirming that Ward’s right eye appeared to be unharmed, though he sustained a cut that required stitches. “Obviously he hit the wall pretty good,” Montgomery noted.

Fellow Angels outfielder Jo Adell expressed frustration over the design of the ballpark, criticizing the presence of the low-mounted metal scoreboard. Adell himself suffered an injury from the same wall in 2021 and voiced his concerns about player safety.

Adell’s Concerns

“He’s doing what he’s supposed to do. He’s being aggressive on a play,” Adell said. “At the bottom line, there should be no out-of-town metal scoreboard anywhere on the baseball field. A guy goes back to make a play and he’s got to worry about a metal fence. That’s crazy.”

Ward’s Season and Team Outlook

This season, Ward has recorded a .228 batting average, with a career-high 30 home runs and 94 RBIs in his eighth year with the Angels. The victory on Sunday improved the Angels’ record to 64-72, placing them fourth in the AL West and significantly behind in the wild-card race. The team is set to conclude the four-game series against the Astros on Monday afternoon.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.