New Jersey boy, 12, critical after freak baseball accident

A 12-year-old New Jersey boy remains in extremely critical condition on a ventilator days after being struck in the neck by a baseball during pregame warmups. Xavier Taylor, a player with Maple Shade Youth Baseball, was walking back to the dugout at Fellowship Columbia Bank Field on Tuesday, May 26, when an errant throw from a teammate hit him in the neck. He collapsed on the field and according to his father, went into cardiac arrest.

Greg Taylor, his father and a retired firefighter, rushed to help his son on the field before Xavier was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where he has been in the ICU ever since. Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement "An unpredicted ball got loose from one of the players and struck him in his neck and he collapsed on the ground," Greg Taylor told CBS Philadelphia.[1] He called it a freak accident and said no one is to blame.

He added that he has spoken with the teammate who threw the ball. As of Saturday night, there was no change. "He's still in extremely critical condition, still on a ventilator, constantly for him.

We're just pushing day by day to hope that the activity comes back," Greg Taylor said at a prayer vigil[2] held outside Cooper Hospital. 1 / 81

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The New York Mets host Bark in the Park night at Citi Field on April 28, 2026.

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The New York Mets host Bark in the Park night at Citi Field on April 28, 2026.

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The Phillie Phanatic interacts with Philadelphia Phillies service dog Tugger during a break in action during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Citizens Bank Park on Aug.

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June 22, 2025: Dodger Stadium

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Bruce the Bat Dog fetches a bat before a game between the Washington Nationals and the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on June 14, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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June 14, 2025: Bruce the Bat Dog, from the Washington Nationals Triple-A affiliate Rochester Red Wings, stands atop the dugout steps during pregame festivities prior to the Nationals' game against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park.

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April 7, 2025: Citi Field

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April 20, 2025: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati

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3, 2024: Fans bring their dogs during the Bark in the Park night prior to the game between the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium.

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28: Decoy, the dog of the Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, waits for instruction before delivering the first pitch before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium.

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28, 2024: A dog gets close to the camera during the Bark at the Park event before the Colorado Rockies' game against the Miami Marlins at Coors Field.

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Aug.

28, 2024: Television actress Caitlin O'Connor holds her dog Bubbles on the field prior to the Pittsburgh Pirates playing the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.

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Aug.

24, 2024: Oakland Athletics head groundskeeper Clay Wood (left) and manager Mark Kotsay (right) pet Reba, the Oakland Athletics' clubhouse dog, in the dugout before the game between the Oakland Athletics and Milwaukee Brewers at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

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Aug.

12, 2024: Dogs walk on the warning track for Bark in the Park day before the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

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June 2, 2024: Fans and their dogs walk the field during a pup parade during Pups in the Park day prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

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June 2, 2024: Fans and their dogs walk the field during a pup parade during Pups in the Park day prior to the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.

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May 9, 2024: A dog takes the ball from Milwaukee Brewers first base coach Quintin Berry following a first pitch prior to the game against the St.

Louis Cardinals on Bark at the Park night at American Family Field.

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May 5, 2024: Oakland Athletics infielder Max Schuemann shares a moment with Reba, the Oakland Athletics' clubhouse dog, before a game against the Miami Marlins at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

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April 16, 2024: Chase Field, Arizona

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March 31, 2024: Oakland Athletics head groundskeeper Clay Wood's dog Reba plays with a baseball on the field before the game between the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Guardians at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

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March 29, 2024: Oakland Athletics groundskeeper Clay Wood and his dog rake the infield before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

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March 29, 2024: A dog dressed in New York Mets apparel sits in front of Citi Field before the Opening Day game between the Mets and Milwaukee Brewers.

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8, 2023: Camden Yards

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June 7, 2023: Great American Ball Park.

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June 7, 2023: Great American Ball Park.

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May 19, 2023: Citi Field (Mets)

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May 9, 2023: Great American Ball Park.

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April 11, 2023: Citi Field

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28, 2022: Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (Oklahoma CIty Dodgers)

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5, 2022: Dodger Stadium

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Sept.

5, 2022: A dachshund gives a Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw doll a ride around the field during the Pups at the Park Parade at Dodger Stadium.

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5, 2022: Dodger Stadium

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5, 2022: Dodger Stadium

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16, 2022: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati Reds)

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Brooks, a 2-year-old Dalmatian owned by Sarah Paukert of Ames, enjoys the action during the Dog Days at Principal Park as the Iowa Cubs hosted Columbus in a minor league baseball game on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in Des Moines.

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June 7, 2022: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brent Suter throws out a first pitch for his dog on Bark at the Park night prior to the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at American Family Field.

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June 4, 2022: Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers)

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June 4, 2022: Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers)

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May 9, 2022: Great American Ball Park (Cincinnati)

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April 19, 2022: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)

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28, 2021: Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)

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3, 2020; Minute Maid Park (Astros)

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10, 2020: Dodger Stadium

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2, 2020: Kauffman Stadium (Royals)

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10, 2019: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox).

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8, 2019: Marlins Park

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13, 2019: Coors FIeld (Rockies)

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13, 2019: Coors FIeld (Rockies)

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13, 2019: Coors FIeld (Rockies)

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July 16, 2019: Brewers pitcher Jeremy Jeffress pets his dog.

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July 16, 2019: Josh Hader shows fans his dog at Miller Park.

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July 7, 2019: Oracle Park (Giants)

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June 21, 2019: Oakland Coliseum (Athletics)

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June 21, 2019: Oakland Coliseum (Athletics)

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June 17, 2019: Great American Ball Park (Reds).

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June 4, 2019: Petco Park (San Diego)

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June 4, 2019: Petco Park (Padres)

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May 29, 2019: Camden Yards (Orioles)

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May 14, 2019: Great American Ball Park (Reds).

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April 29, 2019: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)

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March 6, 2019: Salt River Fields (Rockies spring training)

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21, 2019: Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe with his dog on media day

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Sept 24, 2018: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)

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16, 2018: Tropicana Field (Rays)

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2, 2018: Minute Maid Park (Astros)

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22, 2018: Coors Field (Rockies)

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22, 2018: Coors Field (Rockies)

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22, 2018: Coors Field (Rockies)

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June 19, 2018: Petco Park (Padres)

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May 30, 2018: Kauffman Stadium (Royals)

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May 20, 2018: SunTrust Park (Atlanta)

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April 23, 2018: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)

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6, 2017: Guaranteed Rate Field (White Sox)

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June 29, 2017: Petco Park (Padres)

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20, 2016: Citizens Bank Park (Phillies)

The Maple Shade community has rallied around the family. Hundreds gathered at the field Thursday night for a candlelight vigil, and at the second vigil outside the hospital Saturday.

Supporters across the country wore Xavier's No.

6 at their own youth games. More than £70,000 has been raised[3] through a community fundraiser for the Taylors, with meals organized through the summer. Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Greg Taylor addressed the crowd at the field vigil Thursday, sharing a glimpse of who his son is. "Inside of Xavier's hat is a bible verse - Philippians 4:13. 'I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.' That bible verse is something he began and to this day still believes in.

"My son Xavier loves this game," he said. "He will play this game again."

The Maple Shade Baseball Association filed incident reports with Babe Ruth League headquarters and Maple Shade Township police.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Jersey boy critical after freak baseball accident[4]

References

1. ^ Greg Taylor told CBS Philadelphia. (www.facebook.com)
2. ^ Greg Taylor said at a prayer vigil (www.nbcphiladelphia.com)
3. ^ More than £70,000 has been raised (dailyvoice.com)
4. ^ New Jersey boy critical after freak baseball accident (www.usatoday.com)