Ron Kulpa Takes a Foul Ball to the Mask, Heading to the Sidelines With Concussion

One scary moment on Saturday and Umpire Ron Kulpa is out for at least a week. The veteran crew chief took a foul ball flush to the mask during the Miami Marlins' game at the New York Yankees and has been diagnosed with a concussion, according to MLB on Sunday.

Here's how it went down: Kulpa was behind the plate in the fourth inning when a foul ball off the bat connected with his mask on the first pitch from Paul Blackburn to Jakob Marsee. Two outs, one on base. Kulpa stuck around after chatting briefly with catcher Austin Wells, but you could tell something was wrong when Otto Lopez stepped up to bat. Kulpa waved off and signaled toward the Yankees' dugout. Two athletic trainers came out to check him over, and then he left on his own power.

Scott Barry Stepped In Without Missing a Beat

Scott Barry, who was working first base that day, made the quick move to the umpire's room, suited up, and took over behind the plate. The delay lasted 11 minutes before play resumed. Derek Thomas came in to replace Kulpa for the rest of the crew when Sunday's series finale rolled around.

A Veteran Goes Down

Kulpa, 57, is no rookie to the big leagues. He made his debut on July 23, 1998, and was promoted to the major league staff in 1999. The guy has been behind the plate for the World Series twice, in 2011 and 2021. Now he'll be under concussion protocols for at least the next week with follow-up exams and care ahead of any return.

It's a tough break for one of baseball's most experienced umps, but it's the right call to sit him down and make sure he's good to go.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.