Ryan Lasko, a 24-year-old outfielder in the Oakland Athletics’ minor league system, reported progress in his recovery nearly a month after sustaining a serious spinal injury during a Double-A game.

On June 30, while playing center field for the Midland RockHounds, Lasko collided with teammate Devin Taylor in a bid to catch a ball. Both players dove for the ball, resulting in a head-on collision that left Lasko motionless on the field for approximately 10 minutes before he was transported off by medical personnel.

Later that evening, Lasko underwent spinal surgery at a hospital in Plano, Texas, to address a fractured vertebra between the C6 and C7 levels. Medical staff expressed cautious optimism regarding his chances of regaining mobility in his lower body.

In an update shared on Instagram, Lasko said he has begun to regain sensation and movement in his legs. He described experiencing feeling from his feet up to his knees, along with involuntary leg movements. Additionally, he noted some sensation returning in the sides of his thighs, hamstrings, and back. He also reported partial recovery of use in his hands, estimating about 75% function in his left hand and 50% in his right.

Lasko expressed gratitude for the support he has received throughout his recovery, attributing much of his motivation to this encouragement.

Selected by the Athletics in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Rutgers University, Lasko was regarded as a promising prospect entering the season. Prior to his injury, he was ranked as the team’s 18th best prospect by MLB Pipeline, a ranking that has since dropped to 27th. He appeared in 73 games this season, batting .209 with six home runs and 34 runs batted in.