Allen County Community College head baseball coach Val McLean will undergo surgery Monday to repair damage done to the area around his left eye.
McLean, who is in his 34th season as Red Devil head coach, was hit in the face by a foul ball last weekend. The ACCC baseball team was in Topeka playing a scrimmage against a high school select team as a clinic for baseball officials.
According to Randy Weber, ACCC athletic director, McLean was seated inside the dugout when an opposing batter connected for the foul ball.
“He was watching his pitcher work on the mound and didn’t pick up the batted ball quick enough to get out of the way,” Weber told the Register. “John (Masterson, ACCC president) and I went over to visit Val this week and he can see out of his eye. There’s just a lot of swelling and some bone damage.”
Weber said McLean has not been at school this week. McLean is expected to be out a week following surgery.
McLean was inducted into the NJCAA Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. He has led the Red Devils to two JUCO World Series, taking third in 1983 and eighth in 2000. McLean’s overall coaching record is 1,098-632.
McLean is the director of counseling at Allen County and teaches personal development classes.
