NEW YORK — Plate umpire Nick Mahrley exited in the fifth inning of Sunday’s game between the New York Yankees and Colorado Rockies when he was hit in the neck by Giancarlo Stanton’s shattered bat.

Stanton’s bat broke when he hit a bloop single to left field. The barrel hit Mahrley on the left side of his mask, knocking it off.

Mahrley immediately fell down and was attended to by New York’s athletic training staff. A medic came on the field and Mahrley was helped onto a stretcher as the crowd applauded.

After New York’s 10-3 win, Major League Baseball said Mahrley was diagnosed with a concussion and will not work his next assigned series.

“We’re all hoping for the best with Nick and we’ll see what goes on,” Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. “They got a tough job back there man. It’s not easy, you got both benches yelling at you throughout the game on balls and strikes. You got to make split-second decisions. You got players mad at you, you’re trying to do your best and then to kind of get squared up on the side of the head with the bat, it’s tough. To see him get carted off wasn’t easy but just definitely hoping for the best.”

When play resumed, crew chief Marvin Hudson took over behind the plate. Second base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt moved from second base to first base.

The 41-year-old Mahrley worked 473 games as a callup umpire until becoming a full-time umpire before last season.

During a recent game between the Colorado Rockies and the New York Yankees, plate umpire Nick Mahrley was forced to leave the game after suffering a scary injury to his neck caused by a broken bat.

The incident occurred in the top of the fourth inning when Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge shattered his bat on a swing, sending a large piece of the bat flying towards Mahrley behind home plate. The sharp edge of the broken bat struck Mahrley in the neck, causing him to immediately drop to the ground in pain.

Medical staff rushed to Mahrley’s aid and he was quickly taken off the field for further evaluation. It was later revealed that Mahrley had suffered a laceration to his neck and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The safety of umpires and players is always a top priority in baseball, and incidents like this serve as a reminder of the dangers that can come with being on the field. Major League Baseball has taken steps in recent years to improve player safety, including implementing new regulations on bat construction to reduce the risk of broken bats.

Mahrley’s injury serves as a sobering reminder of the risks that come with being an umpire in professional baseball. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the field soon.