When a projectile is traveling towards you, at 97-98 MPH, the only thing to do is pray that it doesn’t injure you badly. And that is why the batters, catchers, and even the umpires behind the plate wear protective gear. But sometimes, when luck is not on your side, things go wrong, like how it went during a game in Japan.

In an NPB game between the Yakult Swallows and the Yokohama BayStars at Meiji Jingu Stadium, there was a major injury to the home plate umpire, Takuto Kawakami. Jomboy Media reported this incident and wrote, “A backswing struck an umpire in Japan in the head during a scary moment.”

Yakult’s batter, Jose Osuna, on a 2-1 pitch in the eighth inning, swung aggressively and missed the ball. But he also lost his grip on the bat and got a good piece of the umpire’s head. The umpire stumbled back and then collapsed to the ground.

He struggled to sit up or even gain stability while on the ground. The medical crew rushed to the umpire with a stretcher, setting up a blue medical tent on the field. A tarp covered him on all sides, and someone treated him on the ground. They later carried him off on the stretcher and replaced him.

Second base umpire Nagakawa took over behind the plate so the game could continue. What makes the whole accident even more heartbreaking is that it was Kawakami’s debut as the chief umpire.

Later, the batter issued an apology on his X account.

“I’m very sorry about what happened today when my bat hit the main umpire. I hope he’s well, I’m really sorry.”

The Nippon Professional Baseball has announced that the 30-year-old umpire underwent emergency surgery and is currently in the ICU. Per reports from the NPB Umpire Score, the Japanese baseball league “has issued a statement treating this as a critical safety matter and is reviewing protective measures for all officials.”

While the Swallows won the game 2-0, the entire incident has shifted the focus to the umpires’ protective gear.

Right now, core protection includes a mask or helmet, an inside chest protector, shin guards, protective cups, and steel-toed plate shoes. But the leagues should check for rooms where these accessories can be improved.

Materials like Windpact’s Crash Cloud or Unequal Technologies’ Kevlar-lined padding can reduce front-impact forces by up to 50%. Technologies like the Force3 Defender mask, which uses a shock suspension system (S3), provide a “mask-within-a-mask” design to disperse energy before it reaches the head. Improved hockey-style helmets (e.g., Wilson Pro Stock) can be brought to use to provide full-head protection while reducing neck fatigue through lighter, stronger shells.

Of course, these are just a few ideas! Because the last incident is far from the first time the baseball world has witnessed such terrifying occurrences behind the plate.

During the Yankees-Marlins game in April 2026, umpire Ron Kulpa took a foul tip straight to his mask. The hit came off a high-speed pitch, and he stopped before walking away. He tried to muster the strength to stay in the game, but was removed minutes later. Reports revealed that he had a concussion and would be missing games under MLB safety rules.

Back in June 2008, umpire Brian O’Nora suffered a terrifying head injury during a Rockies-Royals game. Miguel Olivo broke his bat, and a piece of the wood flew back and hit O’Nora right in the head. The trainers took him out of the game and sent him to the hospital. He had a concussion and missed a lot of time.

But one of the worst injuries came in 2009.

A brutal hit behind the plate struck umpire Kerwin Danley. A broken bat shard hit Danley in the face. The impact caused serious trauma, forcing medical personnel to cart him off the field. Danley endured severe, lingering headaches and missed several weeks of action.

Danley again suffered a concussion in 2015 after taking another hit near his head. This second incident forced him to leave mid-game. Medical staff evaluated him immediately, confirming symptoms consistent with a concussion.

But after the Japan incident, we kind of feel eerie, especially after seeing back-to-back incidents with the umpires, which are not at all related to their game judgment, either!

The Phillies game umpire gets violently attacked after a chase

Just before the start of a weekend Phillies series, an umpire was brutally assaulted for chasing after a robber. A single suspect attacked first base umpire Brock Ballou near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. He grabbed his phone from behind while Ballou was checking directions, per the police reports.

Ballou ran after the suspect toward 16th and Walnut, where both got into a fight. Police said the suspect punched Ballou many times in the head during that short fight.

Both men fell to the ground, and Ballou hit his head, which caused injury.

The teenager suspect kept hitting him before running away, but Ballou could recover his phone. Police also said the same suspect tried to steal from a 7-Eleven just 20 minutes earlier and hit an employee.

Officers shared a video of the suspect and stated that they have still not caught him.

The police have informed that Ballou’s injuries were not serious. He even worked the Phillies game the next night and handled first base without any issue. He later worked as a home plate umpire in the same series, showing that he had recovered.

We have seen Ballou get into incidents outside of the game before, as well.

Back in 2016, Ballou and umpire Cody Clark helped people after an RV crash on I-95. They stopped their car and helped those inside, as was reported at the time.

These moments and this attack show how fast things can change around normal baseball work.