Former Twins outfielder Don Baylor, who now works as the hitting coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, broke his leg Monday in a freak accident before the Angels’ Home Opener, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Baylor broke the femur bone in his right leg when he was catching the ceremonial first pitch from former Angels slugger Vladimir Guerrero. It happened when Baylor reach to his right to catch the ball, when he did his right leg gave out on him.
Baylor struggled to stand up, but with some help of Guerrero he was able to get to his feet, only to have his leg wobble beneath him. Team trainers helped him off the field.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Don right now,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said, via the Pioneer Press. “Obviously it’s a freak (injury). We’ll see how it turns out.”
Baylor was schedule to have surgery today.
“It’s sad,” first baseman Albert Pujols told USA TODAY Sports. “He’s our hitting coach.”
Baylor spent the majority of his career with the Baltimore Orioles and California Angels, but at the age of 38, he played the final third of the 1987 season with the Twins. The Twins went on to win the World Series in a seven-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Baylor’s shining moment came in Game 6, when his two-run homer helped fuel Minnesota to a come-from-behind win.
