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Incident location, Long Island
Z Sports and later reposted by Ducks president Michael Pfaff, who commented: “[The pitcher] luckily avoided serious injury here. His car, not so much.”
What Happened
A Long Island Ducks pitcher had the car T-boned by another driver in the Scottsdale, Arizona area on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, while in the state receiving treatment for a back injury, according to Newsday. Neither the pitcher nor the other driver was seriously hurt, and no ambulance was required to respond to the scene.
The accident was first reported by TMZ Sports. A source subsequently confirmed the crash to Newsday on Wednesday night, providing additional details. The pitcher was driving when another driver — attempting to enter the roadway — struck the vehicle on the side. The source said the pitcher was “OK,” as was the other driver. Video of the vehicle damage in the accident’s aftermath was posted on X by TMZ Sports.
The pitcher had been placed on the Ducks’ injured list Monday due to back spasms before flying to Arizona for treatment at a personal training facility. According to Newsday, the source described the back issue as minor, with the stay in Arizona expected to last only a few days.
Long Island Ducks president and chief business officer Michael Pfaff issued a statement Thursday confirming the team’s awareness of the accident: “[The pitcher] is currently on the injured list and was receiving treatment for back spasms in Arizona when the car was run into by another vehicle. We have communicated with [the pitcher] and will continue to do so, and are thankful to hear he is OK. He will continue his rehabilitation and there remains no timetable for his return to the field.” Pfaff also reposted the TMZ Sports video on X, adding: “[The pitcher] luckily avoided serious injury here. His car, not so much.”
Pfaff separately told Newsday that it is “not unusual” for a player to return home for injury treatment while the Ducks are playing a road series, noting another Ducks infielder is currently doing the same in Florida while also on the injured list.
The pitcher, a 10-year major-league veteran and 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner, last pitched in the majors in 2021 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The pitcher has been performing at a high level for the Ducks in the Atlantic League this season, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.43 ERA across six starts. Notable outings included a seven-inning no-hitter at Lancaster on April 26 and a Ducks-record 15-strikeout game in Central Islip against the Gastonia Ghost Peppers last week. The most recent start, however, was a rough one: Sunday at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, the pitcher allowed five runs and eight hits over five-plus innings against Gastonia, recording a no-decision. The pitcher called for the team trainer after exiting in the sixth inning at a pitch count of 105 and was subsequently examined by a team doctor.
Location & Road Context
The crash occurred somewhere in the Scottsdale, Arizona area — the specific street or intersection has not been publicly disclosed. The pitcher was not in Long Island at the time of the accident; the Ducks were playing a road series while the pitcher was away receiving treatment. For Long Island road and traffic conditions, see our roads coverage and accidents section.
Broader Impact
The accident adds an unexpected wrinkle to what was already a complicated week for the pitcher and the Ducks organization. With no timetable set for the return and the back issue now potentially complicated by the physical jolt of a T-bone collision, the Ducks’ pitching rotation faces continued uncertainty heading into the back half of May.