Oakland Athletics prospect Ryan Lasko is recovering in stable condition after undergoing spinal surgery to address a fractured vertebra. The injury occurred during a Double-A baseball game in Frisco, Texas, which is located approximately 7 miles east of Little Elm.
The incident took place when Lasko and teammate Devin Taylor collided while attempting to catch a fly ball. Both players dove for the ball, and Lasko remained motionless on the field immediately after the play. He was transported to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, where Dr. Jonathan Poggi performed a spinal decompression and stabilization procedure to treat the fracture at the C6–C7 level.
Oakland Athletics General Manager David Forst issued a statement confirming the organization’s support for Lasko and his family. Forst noted that he has been in contact with Lasko’s mother, Patti, to convey the team’s thoughts and prayers. He specifically thanked Midland’s athletic trainers, Noah Huff and Audy Merrick, for their immediate response on the field, as well as the Frisco RoughRiders staff and local paramedics.
The team is monitoring Lasko’s progress closely. Forst stated that the organization is encouraged by medical updates from Dr. Poggi and is directing all available medical resources toward supporting the player’s recovery. Player development director Ed Sprague is traveling to Frisco to provide counseling to teammates who witnessed the event.
Lasko, 24, was selected by the Athletics in the second round of the 2023 amateur draft out of Rutgers University. He currently plays outfield for the Double-A Midland team. This season, he has appeared in games with a batting average of .209, six home runs, 34 runs batted in, and an on-base plus slugging percentage of .635.
