Orioles' Mateo Injured After Bizarre On-Deck Accident

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo was forced to leave Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays after being hit in the back of the head by teammate Cedric Mullins' bat during an on-deck circle mishap.

The incident occurred as Mullins was getting warmed up to enter the batter's box. Mateo reached down to grab something near his feet and was struck by Mullins' bat.

Mateo immediately clutched his head and was visibly shaken. He was attended to by trainers and eventually left the game.

Mullins said he did not see Mateo behind him when he swung the bat.

"I was getting loose looking at the pitcher, and I did kind of like a circle stretch, just pretty normal stuff," Mullins said. "He was right behind me - didn't even see him."

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Mateo entered concussion protocol and would be further evaluated on Monday.

"We're just waiting to see," Hyde said. "Get some more tests and see how he feels tomorrow."

Mateo singled in his lone at-bat against the Rays before the incident. Baltimore fell to Tampa Bay, 4-3.

Mullins robbed Jonny DeLuca with a leaping catch at the wall but was 0-for-4 at the plate. He is hitting .181 with a .544 OPS and six home runs this season.

Mateo is hitting .246 with three homers this season.

Baltimore is 37-20 this season after the loss to the Rays. The Orioles are sitting in second place in the American League East behind the New York Yankees.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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