Chamber Member Collapses During Pirates Spring Training Event: Reports

BRADENTON, FL — A Manatee County Chamber of Commerce member suffered a cardiac event Tuesday during a Pittsburgh Pirates spring training event at Pirate City in Bradenton, according to multiple reports.

The guest collapsed in the outfield during batting practice as part of the event, according to MLB.com. During this promotional event, visitors are invited to try to shag fly balls and meet players.

The chamber member was identified as Ernie Withers, 68, of Bradenton, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Withers is the general manager of Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota, according to his LinkedIn profile. He previously served as chair of the chamber board.

The Pirates’ medical director, Dr. Patrick DeMeo, performed CPR on Withers, who was unresponsive for up to three minutes, and used a defibrillator on him, reports said.

“I can’t give enough credit to our group and how quickly they were responsive,” team manager Derek Shelton said.

In a statement to The Athletic reporter, Rob Biertempfel, the Pirates said Tuesday, “This morning a guest of the Pirates shagging balls on field one at Pirates City had a medical event that required immediate attention. He was attended to by Pirates medical personnel, is alert and responsive, and being transported to a hospital for evaluation.”

Withers’ daughter, Lisa Heath, told Trib Total Media, that she was thankful for the team’s response.

“If it wasn’t for them, he wouldn’t be alive because they saved his life. Everybody did a phenomenal job,” she said. “Because of their quick response, it doesn’t appear he has any neurological issues. They saved his life 100 (percent). We are beyond grateful.”