Tigers reliever Al Alburquerque struck by ball during Orioles' BP

Al Alburquerque of the Detroit Tigers is driven off the field after
before struck by a ball during batting practice before the game against
the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Friday. (Greg
Fiume / Getty Images)

Last Updated: August 12. 2011 6:42PM
Tigers reliever Al Alburquerque struck by ball during Orioles' BP
Tom Gage/ The Detroit News

Baltimore— Tigers relief pitcher Al Alburquerque was carted off the field before Friday night's game after being struck by a ball during batting practice.

There was no immediate word on his condition, but he was conscious and had been helped to his feet when he got on the cart. He was taken to University of Maryland Hospital for tests.

It appeared he was hit in the head by a drive as he played catch in left field as the Orioles hit. Orioles second baseman Robert Andino hit the ball and was so shaken, he couldn't complete batting practice.

Even before it could be identified that the stricken player was Alburquerque, he could be seen flailing his legs and writhing in pain on the ground.

A fan down the left-field line said he saw it happen in front of him.

"It wasn't a line drive. It was a one-hopper that hit him as he was crouching down," said Derek Buckley, 19, of Strasburg, Va., a friend and former teammate of Ben Verlander, Justin's brother. "He got up holding the left side of his head, and still seemed to be in a lot of pain when he got on the cart. But he rode in the front seat as they went off. He wasn't lying down or anything."

Team trainer Kevin Rand accompanied Alburquerque to the hospital, so the Tigers had no immediate update on his condition.

In Cleveland, earlier on this trip, Tigers bullpen catcher Scott Pickens also was struck during batting practice — taking a ball flush against his right ear. Like Alburquerque, he immediately fell to the ground.

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From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110812/SPORTS0104/108120429/Tigers-reliever-Al-Alburquerque-struck-by-ball-during-Orioles’-BP#ixzz1UrImde6C

By Jeff Seidel / Special to MLB.com | 8/13/2011 12:02 AM ET

Alburquerque was taken to the University of Maryland Medical Center, where he was to remain overnight for observation. He was diagnosed with a concussion and placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list. The Tigers will recall Ryan Perry to take his place.