Umpire Nick Marley is ejected from the game between the Rockies and Yankees after being hit in the neck by a broken bat.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Baseball umpire Nick Marley was knocked off the field in the fifth inning of Sunday’s game between the New York Yankees and Colorado Rockies when Giancarlo Stanton’s shattered bat struck him in the neck.

Stanton’s bat broke when he hit a single to left field. The ball struck Marley on the left side of his mask, causing him to fall.

Maherle immediately collapsed and received treatment from the New York Athletic Training Corps. A doctor then came onto the field and helped him onto a stretcher as the crowd applauded.

after New York won 10-3Major League Baseball said Maherle suffered a concussion and will not play in his next series of games.

“We all hope for the best with Nick and we’ll see what happens,” Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge said. “They got a tough job out there, man. It’s not easy, you get yelled at by both teams all game for balls and strikes. You have to make split-second decisions. He’s got the guys mad at you, you try your best and then you get hit in the side of the head with a bat, it’s tough. It wasn’t easy to see him get taken away on a cart, but I sure hope it’s better.”

When the game 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 Maherli took part in 473 matches as a temporary referee until becoming a full-time referee before last season.

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