Giants players hospitalized after crash

Five Giants Minor Leaguers, including No. 19 prospect Adalberto Mejia, were hospitalized and later released after their team passenger van was involved in a two-vehicle collision on Tuesday morning in Scottsdale, Ariz., according to police and multiple reports.

Giants senior vice president of communications Staci Slaughter initially told the Associated Press that six players were taken to a hospital, later confirmed as Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center. The Giants released a statement, stating that among the players in the van when it crashed were left-hander Bryce Bandilla, right-hander Jeff Soptic, right-hander Daniel Slania, left-hander Mejia and infielder Kelby Tomlinson.

There are reported to have been 11 players riding in a van that was involved in a two-car accident on Scottsdale Road.

Slaughter told MLB.com she was informed that none of the injuries were life-threatening. Andrew Baggerly of CSNBayArea.com reported that all five of the above players were released from the hospital after X-rays and CT scans proved negative. Many had complained of concussion-like symptoms.

Giants No. 1 prospect Kyle Crick said it appeared the players would recover.

"Hope all my fellow mini Giants are safe and recovering," he wrote on Twitter. "Looks like everyone is going to be okay."

In a statement, the Giants said: "Earlier this morning a passenger van transporting 11 Giants Minor Leaguers from the team hotel to the Giants' Minor League complex at Indian School in Scottsdale, Arizo., was involved in a two-vehicle traffic accident... All five players have been released from the hospital and are resting comfortably at the team hotel and will be checked by team doctors over the next 24 hours."

There were initially a number of conflicting and sometimes false reports from a variety of media outlets surrounding the conditions of the players -- one report from the Associated Press claimed Scottsdale Police Sgt. Mark Clark said none of the injuries were life-threatening, while Scottsdale Battalion Chief Rod Thompson, according to NBCBayArea.com, also reportedly told the Associated Press that one person's injuries "are considered critical and possibly life-threatening."

Derin McMains, a Minor League coach in the Giants system, told NBCBayArea.com that none of the players were seriously injured.

"We met with the guys who are here and you can imagine everyone is pretty shaken up," McMains told NBC. "You try to figure out how some good can come of this. You see how quickly everything can be taken from you."

The vehicles involved in the accident on Scottsdale Road. (Courtesy Fox 10 via NBCbayarea.com)

Former Giants director of player development Fred Stanley did not immediately respond to a request for information on the players.

According to reports, the 12-passenger van was carrying 11 people on Scottsdale Road as the players departed a team hotel around 8 a.m. local time. The van then collided with a Kia sedan -- the driver of that car is not believed to be injured. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the driver was cited by police.

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reported that slugging outfielder Mac Williamson, one of the team's top prospects, was in the van but was uninjured.

Giants trainer Dave Groeschner reportedly went to the hospital to check on the players. According to NBC, the team will test those not hospitalized for concussions.

The Giants players were in Scottsdale to begin a three-week offseason conditioning camp. The city is home to the Giants' Spring Training ballpark as well as its Rookie-level Arizona League affiliate.

"Prayers to the Giants players in the crash in Scottsdale today," right-hander Martin Agosta, a 2013 South Atlantic League All-Star for the Giants at Class A Augusta, wrote on Twitter.

"I hope those players hurt in the van collision in Scottsdale are ok. Please pray for them," said Seth Rosin, who came up with the Giants and currently pitches for Philadelphia.