LaPorta will return today after beanball to the head

PORT CHARLOTTE - Vince LaPorta had an inkling there could be some shenanigans.

His son Matt LaPorta injured China's best player, catcher Wang Wei, on a play at the plate in the Olympic Baseball prelims in Beijing, China.

Then, LaPorta's teammate Nate Schierholtz of the United States blasted into reserve catcher Yang Yang later in the game.

"They were blocking the plate," LaPorta told reporters in China. "That's maybe how they're taught. They do a lot more sliding than we do. It's just different baseball over here. Both cultures have to realize that."

Watching from his Port Charlotte home, Vince knew something might happen after the second collision at the plate. "Unfortunately, Matt was next up to bat," Vince said.

Matt came to the plate as the leadoff hitter in the seventh inning against China, managed by Jim Lefebvre. Vince watched Yang shift his body and move the target inside, as the pitch from reliever Chen Kun sailed toward Matt's head.

The ball hit off the ear flap of Matt's helmet and off his shoulder.

"They definitely threw at him," Vince said. "I couldn't believe it. Matt got hit in the head."

Vince was relieved when Matt got to his feet after spending several moments on the ground.

Removed from the game, Matt was taken to a hospital, where he had a magnetic resonance imaging. He was diagnosed with a slight concussion.

With Vince's wife Cindy, her cousin and Matt's fiance Dara Altman in China, the sight was even more distressing.

"I'm definitely thankful I was wearing a little bit of a helmet," said LaPorta, who expects to be in the lineup today against Japan in the final preliminary round game.

Vince was happy to see Matt in the dugout Tuesday, when the U.S. returned to the diamond against Chinese Taipei.

"He's been hit before," Vince said of Matt, who owns the University of Florida record for being hit by pitch in a career with 51, including 19 as a senior 2006.

"But never in the head. That's pretty bad. He could take getting hit, but not in the head. He looked OK, tired."

Matt didn't play in the United States' 4-2 victory over Taipei, but felt remorse for Wei, who tore ligaments in his knee.

"I feel terrible," LaPorta said. "It's such a sad thing. It's the Olympics and you're out there to win, but you don't want to see anybody get hurt."

It's been an interesting year for Matt, the 23-year-old out of Charlotte High.

In his second year with Milwaukee, which made him the seventh overall pick in the 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, LaPorta was the key player acquired by Cleveland in the trade that sent left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia to the Brewers.

Having an outstanding season on the Double A level, LaPorta made the Futures Game, comprised of minor league standouts who played at Yankee Stadium two days before the All-Star Game.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound LaPorta made the Olympic team following a tryout.

There's a chance he could be a September call-up with the Indians. Even if he's not, LaPorta should have an opportunity to make the team next year.

Before he arrives in Arizona in February, Matt has a December date to wed Altman, a former track and field standout in the pole vault at Florida.

"It's all going a little too fast for me," Vince said.