Angels’ Taylor Ward Carted Off After Frightening Face-First Collision with Outfield Wall

HOUSTON-Los Angeles Angels left fielder Taylor Ward suffered a severe facial injury Sunday when he slammed into the out-of-town scoreboard in left field during the eighth inning of the Angels’ 2-0 loss to the Houston Astros at Daikin Park.

Ward was sprinting hard toward the Crawford Boxes’ unpadded, 19-foot wall while chasing a Ramón Urías line drive when he crashed face-first into the scoreboard. He remained conscious but immediately signaled for help, kneeling briefly before Angels medical staff rushed onto the field.

Team trainers from both clubs attended to Ward for nearly ten minutes as teammates knelt in support. Ward was upright throughout the delay and received pressure applied to his face by Angels athletic trainer Andrew Chin. He was then covered with towels and loaded onto a cart for removal to a nearby hospital for further evaluation.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said after the game that the team was “deeply concerned” about Ward’s condition and would provide updates once his prognosis was known. X-rays and scans are expected to determine the full extent of any fractures or soft-tissue damage. The Angels will closely monitor Ward’s recovery as they approach the final month of the regular season.