Matt Breen
The Philadelphia Inquirer
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Phillies — and the rest of the baseball community — are praying for Daniel Brito as the minor-league infielder remains hospitalized in Rochester, N.Y. after collapsing Saturday during triple-A Lehigh Valley’s game.
“He needs a lot of prayers. It’s scary,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said Sunday. “It just shows you how precious everything is.”
Brito, 23, underwent surgery on Saturday evening and the Phillies said Sunday that he is “undergoing further medical evaluation.” Brito was playing the field in the first inning on Saturday when he began to wobble following a medical emergency.
The Democrat and Chronicle reported that Brito was on the ground for 20 minutes and was administered oxygen by a paramedic on the field before the ambulance arrived and transported him to Strong Memorial Hospital. The game was suspended and Sunday’s game was postponed.
“There was a kid yesterday in Lehigh Valley who went down,” Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Sunday. “I just want to give my thoughts and prayers to Daniel Brito and his family. I wish him well in his recovery and to the Phillies, you never want to see a kid like that or anybody go down like that. My thoughts and prayers are with all of them.”
https://twitter.com/JeffSkversky/status/1421635449018322947
Brito signed with the Phillies in 2014 out of Venezuela. He started the season with double-A Reading, where he hit .296 with an .820 OPS in 63 games before being promoted in July to triple A. Saturday was his ninth game with the IronPigs.
He won a minor-league Gold Glove Award in 2018 at second base and is one of the organization’s top defenders.
“Saw the news of Daniel Brito,” former Phillies pitcher Cole Irvin tweeted. “Please pray for him and his family. Know I am praying hard for your surgery and recovery. Great player, better teammate.”
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