Kentucky baseball coach suspended after player injury

April 5, 2023 / Athletic AdministrationBaseball
A Kentucky baseball coach has been suspended following an incident during a game over the weekend.

During a game between Graves County and Lyon County, EMT services needed to be dispatched to the field to help an injured 14-year-old. The Lyons County Sheriff’s Office said authorities had to be called to the field to investigate a disturbance — which triggered the EMT call.

kentuckyUpon investigation, the sheriff’s office said Graves County coach Josh Byrd had become frustrated after a call from an umpire. Byrd allegedly picked up a weighted bat sleeve and threw it into his team’s dugout, where it struck the 14-year-old boy’s face.

A disturbance broke out between fans and coaches of the opposing team after the boy was injured, according to authorities. The boy was transported by EMS to Baptist Health in Paducah, Kentucky for treatment.

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Kentucky authorities collected interviews and video evidence, and the investigation is ongoing.