New York Yankees guest instructor Lee Mazzilli was scheduled to spend the night in the hospital after being struck in the head by a ball during batting practice at Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, according to published reports.
The Yankees said Mazzilli was spending the night at the hospital for “observation.”
The incident happened during a batting practice session for players who weren’t on the trip for New York’s game against the Houston Astros in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Mazzilli played 14 big league seasons and batted .259 with 93 homers and 460 RBIs. He served two stints with the New York Mets (1976-81 and 1986-89) and also played for the Texas Rangers (1982), Yankees (1982), Pittsburgh Pirates (1983-86) and Toronto Blue Jays (1989).
Mazzilli, an outfielder, was an All-Star for the Mets in 1979 when he batted .303 with 15 homers and 79 RBIs.
Mazzilli, who turns 64 on Monday, also served as manager of the Baltimore Orioles for parts of two seasons (2004-05), compiling a 129-140 record. He was a coach for the Yankees from 2000-03 and again in 2006.