Giancarlo Stanton sent a classy message to the umpire who was stretchered off after being hit by a bat

During Sunday’s game between the New York Yankees and Colorado Rockies, home plate umpire Nick Mahrley had to wear a neck brace and be carried off on a stretcher after being hit by a broken bat during an at-bat by Giancarlo Stanton. The league announced that he suffered a concussion and will miss at least one series while recovering.

Mahrley remained unconscious for several minutes while medical personnel tended to him after the entire body of Stanton’s bat detached from the handle and was propelled backward, making contact with the home plate umpire’s neck and head area. After he left the game, it continued with a three-man crew without an umpire at third base.

Stanton praised Mahrley after the game and how he handled the unusual play.

“It was bad… He took it like a champ. When I was in the box, I didn’t hear anything… a moan or anything. He took it like a champ, I think he’ll be okay.”

Stanton hit 2-for-3, including a hit on a broken-bat play. New York had 12 hits and won the deciding game 10-3.

This is Mahrley’s second season as a full-time major league umpire.