A frightening incident occurred on the field Tuesday night in Midland, Michigan, during the Great Lakes Loons’ game versus the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Great Lakes starting pitcher Patrick Copen was carried off the field after being smacked in the face by Wisconsin’s Cooper Pratt’s line drive.
Copen, the Dodgers’ No. 20 prospect, did not lose consciousness before being brought to a local hospital, according to multiple witnesses.
Although no Statcast data were available from the game, one observer stated that Pratt’s line drive was a 100-mph shot off the bat:
Copen, 22, was a seventh-round draft pick from Marshall in 2023, signing for $225,500.
He allowed one run over the first two innings at Dow Diamond before walking Wisconsin’s Luis Lara to start the third inning. The next batter, Pratt, hit a line drive back to the mound, which was ruled a single.
According to Hugh Bernreuter of MLive.com, a neck brace was placed on Copen, who moved his arms as paramedics took him off the field on a stretcher. A witness reported to Dodgers Nation that the line drive struck Copen in the cheek or orbital bone area. The game was delayed for 21 minutes while he received medical attention.
No further updates on Copen’s condition were provided during or after the game.
Standing 6-foot-6, Copen began the season with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, where he went 5-2 with a 3.15 ERA in 13 games (11 starts) over 54.1 innings.
He was promoted to Great Lakes, the Dodgers’ advanced Class-A Midwest League affiliate, on June 25.
In eight starts with the Loons, Copen has a 3-2 record with a 4.21 ERA, recording 35 strikeouts and 27 walks over 36.1 innings, with opponents batting .248 against him.
Over the last two seasons, Copen has appeared in 24 minor league games, making 21 starts. The Parkersburg, W.V. native has pitched 95 innings, allowing only 76 hits, walking 55, and striking out 97.
Leave a Reply