Fresno's Ford carted off field after collision

A frightening injury disrupted Thursday's game between the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies and Salt Lake Bees. Grizzlies outfielder Darren Ford collided with the left-field wall at Salt Lake's Smith's Ballpark while chasing a foul ball in the bottom half of the eighth inning.

Ford suffered a concussion and a neck sprain, but his vitals "seem OK," and he was able to move his legs and feet, according to Fresno manager Bob Mariano. He added that Ford would undergo a CAT scan on his head and a series of X-rays on his back and neck.

Immediately following the collision, players in the left-field bullpen rose and signaled for help. Both teams' trainers and a Salt Lake doctor attended to Ford. Eventually, an ambulance and a firetruck pulled onto the field. Ford was removed on a stretcher and brought to an area hospital.

Ford's agent, Joshua Kusnick, suggested via Twitter that Ford will be all right.

 

Darren ford never lost conciousness and was put on a stretcher as a precaution. He has full movement likely a concussion w back pain #giant

- Joshua Kusnick (@JoshuaKusnick) April 11, 2014

 

Ford, nicknamed "the Bullet" for his speed, is in his 10th season of Minor League Baseball and has played for four organizations (Brewers, Giants, Mariners and Pirates). He saw Major League action in seven games in 2010 and 26 games in 2011. He played in the San Francisco system from July 2008 through the end of the 2011 campaign, and he signed with the Giants as a Minor League free agent on March 8.

The 28-year-old native of New Jersey was 1-for-4 and had been caught stealing before being replaced by Tyler Colvin in the Grizzlies' 11-4 victory. Ford's hitting .350 with two stolen bases and four runs scored through eight games this season.

Fresno third baseman Adam Duvall homered and had four RBIs, and 16th-ranked Giants prospect Gary Brown homered and scored three runs.