Triple-A Blue Jays catcher Payton Henry discharged from hospital, 'doing well'
Michael Avallone
@MavalloneMiLBTriple-A Buffalo catcher Payton Henry, who was hospitalized after being struck on the head with a backswing during' Friday night's game at Syracuse, was discharged on Saturday and "is doing well as he continues to rest and recover," the Bisons announced this afternoon.
During the seventh inning of a game that was halted as a result of the injury, Mets infielder Pablo Reyes swung and missed at a first-pitch offering from Bisons right-hander Connor Cooke. However, Reyes' backswing caught Henry on the helmet right behind his left ear. The impact caused Henry's mask to fall off and he immediately fell forward before laying on his back, grimacing in pain.
As Buffalo's athletic trainer and manager Casey Candaele knelt at Henry's side, he reached for his head. The trainer immediately called over to the Syracuse dugout to have them call for emergency services.
"That was scary. He¡¯s OK. He¡¯s conscious. He¡¯s all right. You hate seeing that," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "For one, Payton is such an unbelievable human and person. You hate seeing that as a former catcher, too. You kind of know what that¡¯s like. He¡¯s doing all right, which is a good thing.¡±
After the incident, players from both teams watched in silence and concern, with several putting their hats over their faces. A backboard was brought out onto the field within minutes and Henry was carted off and taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The Bisons tweeted later that Henry was "alert and appropriately responsive."
Candaele and Syracuse manager Dick Scott conferred with umpires for several minutes before the decision was made to end the game in the seventh.
Henry was a sixth-round pick of the Brewers in the 2016 Draft out of Pleasant Grove (Utah) HS. The 26-year-old appeared in 20 Major League games in 2021-22 with the Marlins.
Henry is in the midst of his first season with the Blue Jays' organization.