Adelaide Angels baseballer Tyler Forney has permanently lost vision in his right eye after being struck by a foul ball off his own bat during a game last weekend, ending a playing career that spanned more than a decade at the South Australian club.
Forney, who moved to Australia from Arizona more than 10 years ago, was playing in the second game of a double-header against Woodville on Saturday when the incident occurred, close friend and long-time teammate Chris Congdon said.
“His ball ricocheted off his bat and basically collected his right eye,” Congdon said. Forney was taken to hospital by ambulance and underwent significant eye surgery that evening, but doctors could not recover the sight in his eye.
Forney, a stalwart of the club since joining in 2016, had played more than 300 games for the Angels over 11 years. The Adelaide Angels Baseball Club said in a statement: "This past weekend, Tyler Forney suffered a serious injury in what can only be described as a freak accident. While Ty's playing career has come to an unexpected end, the impact he has made on the Adelaide Baseball Club and wider baseball community will endure for many years to come."
Congdon described Forney as a “really really tough cookie” and said he was sure Forney had played through a broken hand for parts of last season. “He was a walking highlight reel — he would make plays at shortstop that just no one else could make,” he said. “Anyone I've spoken to around the club that was there was just really mortified by the accident … it's a really horrific freak accident.”
A GoFundMe page set up to support Forney's recovery had raised more than $16,200 by Friday afternoon. The page describes him as "a model teammate, competitor and ambassador for the game" who is "admired not only for his talent on the field, but for his character away from it."
Congdon said Forney did not realise how much of an impact he had on the club and the wider baseball community. “He's a very humble person, but this has really, really taken him by surprise and he's just so grateful,” he said.
While Forney's playing career is over, the club is already discussing ways to transition him into a coaching role, Congdon said. "He's the sort of person that is quite private and reserved, but when he speaks and he does, everybody listens."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The injury ends the playing career of a key figure in South Australia's baseball community, a sport with a relatively small player base where such losses are keenly felt.
- Forney's injury highlights the rare but serious risks athletes face from freak on-field accidents, raising awareness of protective equipment and medical support in amateur leagues.
- The community's swift fundraising response demonstrates the social bonds in local sport and the financial pressures injured amateur players face without professional insurance coverage.
Background
Tyler Forney is an American-born baseballer who moved to Australia from Arizona more than 10 years ago and joined the Adelaide Angels in 2016. He played college baseball in the United States and became one of the club's most accomplished players, known for his athleticism at shortstop. The South Australian Baseball League is a semi-professional competition that draws local and imported talent.
Key Perspectives
Adelaide Angels Baseball Club: Said the injury was a "freak accident" and that while Forney's playing career has ended, "the impact he has made on the Adelaide Baseball Club and wider baseball community will endure for many years to come."
Chris Congdon, teammate: Described the incident as a "horrific freak accident" and Forney as a "walking highlight reel" who was an integral reason for the club's recent success.
What to Watch
- Whether Forney transitions to a coaching role as the club has discussed, and how he adjusts to life after playing.
- The final amount raised by the GoFundMe page, which had already exceeded $16,000 in two days, to cover ongoing medical costs.
- Any discussion within the South Australian Baseball League about safety measures, such as protective eyewear or rule changes, following the incident.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- Partly supportedThe club statement says: “This past weekend, Tyler Forney suffered a serious injury in what can only be described as a freak accident.”7NEWS: ““This past weekend, Tyler Forney ... suffered a serious injury in what can only be described as a freak accident,””
- SupportedCongdon said, “His ball ricocheted off his bat and basically collected his right eye.”Adelaide articles feed: “"His ball ricocheted off his bat and basically collected his right eye," Mr Congdon said.”
- SupportedCongdon called Forney a “really really tough cookie.”Adelaide articles feed: “"He's a really really tough cookie, Ty — I'm sure he played through a broken hand for parts of last season," Mr Congdon said.”
- SupportedThe GoFundMe page describes Forney as “a model teammate, competitor and ambassador for the game.”7NEWS: ““He has been a model teammate, competitor and ambassador for the game,” the GoFundMe page says of him.”
- SupportedForney permanently lost vision in his right eye.Adelaide articles feed: ““However, he's permanently lost vision in his right eye as a result of that.””
- SupportedForney was struck by a foul ball off his own bat during the second game of a double-header against Woodville on Saturday.Adelaide articles feed: “Veteran member of the Adelaide Angels Baseball Club, Tyler Forney, was struck in the eye by a foul ball off his own bat, during a double-header against Woodville on Saturday. Close friend and long-time teammate Chris Congdon said Mr Forney was in the batter's box during the second game when the incident happened.”
- Reports differForney’s playing career has ended.Adelaide articles feed: “He said while Mr Forney's playing career may have come to an end, the club is already talking about ways to transition him to a coaching role.”
- SupportedForney was taken to hospital by ambulance and had significant eye surgery that evening.Adelaide articles feed: “"[It] resulted in him getting taken off to hospital by ambulance in a bad way and having significant eye surgery that evening."”
- SupportedForney had played more than 300 games for the Angels over 11 years.7NEWS: “Forney played over 300 games for the Angels across 11 years”
- SupportedThe GoFundMe had raised more than $16,200 by Friday afternoon.Adelaide articles feed: “A GoFundMe page has since raised more than $16,200 by Friday afternoon to cover Mr Forney's medical fees.”
- SupportedCongdon said the club was discussing ways to move Forney into a coaching role.Adelaide articles feed: “He said while Mr Forney's playing career may have come to an end, the club is already talking about ways to transition him to a coaching role.”