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A top A's outfield prospect still can't feel his lower half after spinal surgery was necessary to repair a fractured vertebra following a terrifying collision with a teammate in Double-A ball.
Ryan Lasko, a 24-year-old outfielder in the A's system, was injured during a game with the Double-A Midland RockHounds after diving for a ball while playing center field.
The problem was that Lasko's partner in right field was also running to catch the ball. Both handed over their bodies for possible capture, but collided when they touched the grass.
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Ryan Lasko of the A's makes a jump shot 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 catch the rolling ball that split the two defenders, but Lasko stayed on the ground in what was a pretty ugly collision.
After he was taken out, it was discovered that Lasko fractured his C6-C7 vertebra, according to MLB.com. He needed spinal decompression and stabilization surgery to repair the injury and was in stable condition.
However, due to the swelling, Lasko still doesn't feel anything in his lower half.
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Ryan Lasko of the Midland Rockhounds poses for a photo during Midland Rockhounds Photo Day at Momentum Bank Ballpark on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Midland, Texas. (Photos by John E. Moore III/MLB)
Athletic director Mark Kotsay spoke about Lasko's injury Wednesday, saying “there's hope the feeling will return.”
Lasko is one of the A's top prospects, entering the season as the franchise's No. 18 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He was selected by the A's in the 2023 MLB Draft in the second round.
While he opened the season in Double-A, Lasko came to Triple-A Las Vegas last season.
The A's Ryan Lasko 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 hitting .209/.275/.360 with six home runs, five triples and 34 RBIs.
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