Dodgers broadcaster fractures wrist, ribs going down Bernie Brewers' slide

MILWAUKEE — A Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster fractured his hand/wrist and ribs on Wednesday after he went down Bernie Brewers' slide at American Family Field.

David Vassegh went down the slide prior to the Brewers/Dodgers game. However, by game time, everyone was talking about it.

During a portion of the game, Dodgers broadcasters Joe Davis and Nomar Garciaparra who were calling the game showed the video of the incident, laughing hysterically as they watched.

Davis said Vassegh had been talking about going down the slide for days, but when he finally did, it did not go as planned.

The first time, he was filmed at the top of the slide, and everything went fine. Then he went down a second time, so he could get footage of him coming down.

That’s when the problem occurred.

The video shows Vassegh going down the slide shouting "holy crap, holy crap!" and when he reached the bottom, he crashed into a padded wall at the bottom.

According to a Dodgers insider, going down the slide and running into the wall at the bottom resulted in two fractures to Vassegh's wrist/hand as well as six fractured ribs. But, that didn't stop him from doing his job!

Vassegh still went on to talk with players and do his live hits on TV. One Dodgers player even said the team played the game for Vassegh.

"The homerun, that was for you, I know you had a little accident on the slide so we all rallied today for you," said Dodgers' third baseman Justin Turner.

Vassegh went to an urgent care facility and was back at work by the fifth inning. Vassegh had his right arm in a soft cast as he conducted a postgame interview with Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes.

“That one was for you,” Barnes told Vassegh after homering in the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory. “I know you had a little accident today on the slide, so we all rallied for you.”

Vassegh was back on the job Thursday, though he says he probably will need surgery when he gets home.

Bernie Brewer greeted him with flowers and a sign that read “0 Days Since Last Incident.” He also gave Vassegh a “Slide Instruction Manual” that read “It's really not that hard.” Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner sent out a tweet poking fun at Vassegh over the situation.

“The Brewers and Bernie wish David the best in his recovery from the landing on the slide,” the Brewers said in a statement. “It’s the first time we’ve had an injury out there and appreciate the good nature that David and his colleagues have displayed in reviewing the experience.”

Vassegh said he received over 200 texts from friends and players since taking his tumble.

“It’s been an outpouring of support — and also comedy at the same time,” Vassegh said.

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