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PORT ST. LUCIE — Jose Pirela suffered a concussion — and possibly more — Sunday when he ran into the center-field fence at Tradition Field in the first inning against the Mets.
The Yankees hoped that was all Pirela incurred and were awaiting further tests after a brain CT Scan came back normal. As the Yankees departed Tradition, Pirela was undergoing a cervical MRI exam.
After hitting his head on the padded wall that fronted a pole, Pirela crumbled to the warning track as Juan Lagares circled the bases for an inside-the-park homer. The impact of Pirela’s head hitting the track was considerable and he remained down for quite a while.
A cart was required to remove Pirela from the field and he was sent to Tradition Medical Center by ambulance.
Pirela, a second and third baseman, is attempting to make the team as a utility player. A more experienced center fielder would likely have caught the drive in the air. It was Pirela’s first start in center and he has appeared there twice.
“Obviously you are concerned when the player doesn’t get up,’’ said Joe Girardi, who went out to center with trainer Steve Donohue. “He is undergoing tests right now and not sure how long it will take to get back. He did not feel good. He was communicating with us, he was dizzy.’’
Since Pirela will have to be examined and pass concussion tests before being allowed to return there is a possibility the 25-year-old Venezuela native’s spring training is finished.
“He is going to have to go through a battery of tests,’’ Girardi said. “You just don’t know, some guys respond quicker than others. You wouldn’t think a second baseman would have a significant number (of concussions) like a catcher and sometimes the response is quicker. We will have to wait and see.’’