The final few weeks of spring training can be dangerous. While many veterans aim to peak for the first week of April, younger players battling to make teams risk injury in their bids to make the big clubs. Case in point occurred Sunday in the Yankees-Mets game in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Yankees' centre fielder Jose Pirela was carted off after he crashed into the centre-field wall during the first inning of Sunday's game against the Mets at Tradition Field.

He appeared to have hit his head on the ground, and remained down on the warning track for several minutes before getting to his feet slowly. Pirela was replaced in centre by Slade Heathcott.

Pirela collided with the wall while chasing a ball hit by Juan Lagares from Yankees starter CC Sabathia that resulted in an inside-the-park home run.

With manager Joe Girardi looking on, a Yankees trainer examined Pirela for several minutes. Pirela was able to walk and was helped into a golf cart.

He was taken by ambulance from the Mets' complex for CT scan.

Pirela, the Yankees' No. 25 prospect according to MLB.com, has been having a good spring, batting 10-for-27 with two doubles and three triples entering Sunday.

With files from MLB.com, The Associated Press