Mark Kotsay says hope remains for Ryan Lasko spinal surgery recovery
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The Athletics’ top outfield prospect still can’t feel his lower half after requiring spinal surgery to repair broken vertebrae following a scary collision with a teammate in Double-A ball.
In the Athletics system, 24-year-old outfielder Ryan Lasko was injured after diving to catch a ball while playing center field during a game against the Double-A Midland RockHounds.
The problem was that Lasko’s teammate in right field was also scrambling to catch the ball. Both gave up their bodies for the potential catch, but collided as they hit the grass.
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The Athletics’ Ryan Lasko performs a jump shot during a Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at HoHoKam Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Brandon Sloter/Getty Images)
Lasko’s teammate Devin Taylor managed to get up and field the ball separating two defenders, but Lasko was knocked down by a huge hit. pretty ugly accident.
After being taken away by car, it was determined that Lasko’s C6-C7 vertebrae were broken. MLB.com. He required spinal decompression and stabilization surgery to repair the injury and was in stable condition.
However, there is no feeling in Lasko’s lower half yet due to swelling.
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Ryan Lasko of the Midland Rockhounds poses for a photo at Midland Rockhounds photo day at Momentum Bank Ballpark on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Midland, Texas. (John E. Moore III/MLB Photos)
“There’s hope that the feeling will come back,” athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Wednesday of Lasko’s injury.
Lasko is one of the Athletics’ top prospects and enters the season as the team’s 18th prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He was selected by the Athletics in the second round in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Lasko, who opened the season in Double-A, managed to move to Triple-A Las Vegas last season.
Ryan Lasko of the Athletics bats during the second inning of a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Hohokam Stadium on March 8, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Diamond Images/Getty Images)
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This year Lasko is batting .209/.275/.360 with six home runs, five triples and 34 RBIs.
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