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A top Athletics outfield prospect still can’t feel his lower half after spinal surgery was needed to repair fractured vertebrae following a scary collision with a teammate in Double-A ball.
Ryan Lasko, a 24-year-old outfielder in the Athletics system, was injured during a game with Double-A Midland RockHounds after diving to catch a ball while playing center field.
The problem was Lasko’s right field teammate was also barreling down to catch the ball. They both gave up their bodies for the potential catch, but collided as they hit the turf.
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Ryan Lasko of the Athletics makes a jumping throw during a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at HoHoKam Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
Lasko’s teammate, Devin Taylor, was able to get up and field the rolling ball that split the two defenders, but Lasko stayed on the ground in what was a pretty ugly crash.
After he was carted off , it was found that Lasko fractured his C6-C7 vertebra, according to MLB.com. He needed spinal decompression and stabilization surgery to repair the injury, and he was in stable condition.
However, due to swelling, Lasko still doesn’t have feeling in his lower half just yet.
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Ryan Lasko of the Midland Rockhounds poses for a photo during the Midland Rockhounds photo day at Momentum Bank Ballpark on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Midland, Texas. (John E. Moore III/MLB Photos)
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay discussed Lasko’s injury on Wednesday, saying that “there’s hope the feeling comes back.”
Lasko is one of the Athletics’ top prospects, entering the season as the franchise’s No. 18 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. He was taken by the Athletics’ in the 2023 MLB Draft in the second round.
While he opened the season in Double-A, Lasko made it to Triple-A Las Vegas last season.
Ryan Lasko of the Athletics bats during the second inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Hohokam Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Diamond Images/Getty Images)
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This year, Lasko is slashing .209/.275/.360 with six home runs, five triples and 34 RBI.
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