LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 26 (UPI) -- The Pulaski County (Ark.) Coroner says Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh died from a ruptured artery that caused a loss of blood to his brain.
He was struck in the left side of the neck below his ear by a line drive during Sunday's game against Arkansas. The force of the blow caused an artery to burst.
Reports this week said he lost consciousness and stopped breathing. Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation was administered on the field before he was taken to Baptist Medical Center in North Little Rock. Coolbaugh was declared dead at the hospital.
"I'm sure when the medics were able to sustain his heart rate they had no way of knowing the extent of his injury to the spinal column," Coroner Mark Malcolm told USA Today this week.
Coolbaugh just joined the Drillers' staff after being sent by Tulsa's parent major league team the Colorado Rockies.
"He and I both had fathers that were extremely passionate about the game, so we'd share stories all the time about our dads not talking to us after we didn't get a hit," said Houston Astros second baseman Chris Burke.
