AL | Umpire injury coincides with maple-bat talk

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Umpire Brian O'Nora was released from the hospital Wednesday after sustaining a mild concussion and a cut on his forehead when he was hit by a broken maple bat the previous night.

O'Nora was behind the plate for a game between Colorado and Kansas City when Miguel Olivo's bat shattered on a ground out to shortstop in the bottom of the second inning.

The barrel of Olivo's bat whipped around and struck O'Nora in the head. With blood pouring down his face, the umpire rushed to Kansas City's dugout.

The frightening scene came only hours after a player-management safety committee discussed the potential danger of maple bats at its first meeting. Following the session, baseball said it will start testing bats.

Some say maple bats splinter with greater force than those made of ash, and commissioner Bud Selig said last month that shattering maple bats are "a source of concern for me."

Baltimore: Starter Matt Albers had to leave in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs because of discomfort in his right shoulder. Albers was pressed into the starting role because lefty Brian Burres was ill.

Boston: Slugger David Ortiz says he is still weeks away from playing after testing his wrist by taking 25 soft swings off a batting tee. ... Curt Schilling kept open the possibility of returning to the Red Sox, but said Wednesday he'll wait about four months before deciding whether to continue his career following shoulder surgery. "If I come out of rehab and I'm throwing 84 miles per hour, it's over," he said on WEEI radio.

Detroit: RHP Denny Bautista was traded to Pittsburgh for minor-league pitcher Kyle Pearson. Detroit also put Brandon Inge on the 15-day disabled list because of a pulled side muscle. Pearson had four saves in 11 games with Lynchburg.

Kansas City: Reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta, signed by the Kansas City Royals to a two-year, $6 million contract in the offseason, was optioned to Class AAA Omaha. The Royals activated RHP Robinson Tejeda.

L.A. Angels: OF Vladimir Guerrero was out of the starting lineup Wednesday night, a day after he left a game with flulike symptoms. Guerrero extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a first-inning single on Tuesday night in Washington.

Milwaukee: RHP Eric Gagne pitched a scoreless inning in his first rehab assignment with Class AAA Nashville on Tuesday night. Gagne, on the DL with right rotator-cuff tendinitis, is scheduled to pitch an inning tonight.

Texas: Hank Blalock's return to the Texas Rangers is uncertain after the soon-to-be first baseman had a setback in his rehabilitation following carpal tunnel surgery. Blalock, a former All-Star third baseman, injured his right hand diving for a ball Sunday with Class AAA Oklahoma.

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