Moment Angels star Mike Trout’s splintered bat shatters INTO the mask of home plate ump

Keep your eye on the bat, too! Moment Angels star Mike Trout’s splintered bat shatters INTO the mask of home plate ump who is left with cuts on his face

  • Umpire Nate Tomlinson suffered facial lacerations Tuesday at Dodger Stadium when a broken bat shattered into his face mask, nearly hitting him in the eye
  • Tomlinson fell backwards and was removed from the game following an exam
  • He was ultimately taken to the emergency room, but avoided any major injury 

An interleague game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles nearly turned tragic on Tuesday night when shards from a broken bat sailed into the mask of home plate umpire Nate Tomlinson.

Tomlinson suffered cuts to his face, but avoided any serious eye injury, although he was escorted off the field following an examination by team trainers.

The incident unfolded in the top of the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ 2-0 victory with a bloop single by Angels star centerfielder Mike Trout.

The incident unfolded in the top of the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ 2-0 victory on Tuesday night with a bloop single by Angels star centerfielder Mike Trout (left)

Trout broke his bat on a ninth-inning offering from Dodgers reliever Craig Kimbrel, causing the severed barrel to go flying backwards into home plate umpire Nate Tomlinson

Trout broke his bat on a ninth-inning offering from Dodgers reliever Craig Kimbrel, causing the severed barrel to go flying backwards into home plate umpire Nate Tomlinson 

Umpire Nate Tomlinson goes down after being hit in the face with a broken bat in LA Tuesday

Umpire Nate Tomlinson goes down after being hit in the face with a broken bat in LA Tuesday

Although the ball flew out to shallow center field, ultimately falling between Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux and centerfielder Cody Bellinger, Trout’s attention was clearly focused on Tomlinson, who could be seen falling backwards. 

As the replay revealed, Trout’s bat shattered above the handle, causing the barrel of the bat to flip backwards with the broken end facing Tomlinson.

Without any time to react, Tomlinson face was cut when the splintered end found the opening of his mask, nearly causing a significant eye injury.

‘Never seen that in the mask,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters afterwards. ‘That was really scary.”

After a brief delay, as Dodgers trainers tended to Tomlinson, the third-year umpire walked off the field under his own power with some blood trickling down his face.

He was taken to an emergency room, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, but avoided any serious injury.

Angels star Shohei Ohtani followed with a double, pushing Trout to third, and third baseman Matt Duffy walked, but the Dodgers managed to get the final to outs to seal the 2-0 win.  

Home plate umpire Nate Tomlinson is treated by Los Angeles Dodgers trainer Nathan Lucero

Home plate umpire Nate Tomlinson is treated by Los Angeles Dodgers trainer Nathan Lucero

Tomlinson, left, is checked on by a Dodgers trainer after he was hit in the face by a broken bat

Tomlinson, left, is checked on by a Dodgers trainer after he was hit in the face by a broken bat

After a brief delay, as Dodgers trainers tended to Tomlinson, the third-year umpire walked off the field under his own power with some blood trickling down his face. He was taken to an emergency room, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, but avoided any serious injury

After a brief delay, as Dodgers trainers tended to Tomlinson, the third-year umpire walked off the field under his own power with some blood trickling down his face. He was taken to an emergency room, according to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, but avoided any serious injury