Matt Baty still walks gingerly from place to place, and even that’s more than the doctors want him to do.

Back in Lawrence after a nasty outfield collision forced the Kansas University baseball senior to an extended hospital visit, Baty is out indefinitely because of a lacerated spleen and kidney. He couldn’t even be in the dugout for KU’s three-game sweep of Western Illinois, which was completed Sunday.

“It just feels like there’s a constant muscle pain back there in the back,” Baty said, pointing to his left side down by the kidney. “I kind of feel like an 80-year-old man.”

Baty, along with fellow outfielder Kyle Murphy, survived perhaps the most feared play in baseball. Playing Lipscomb on Feb. 25 in Nashville, Tenn., the two had a gruesome wreck in left-center field when a soft liner was placed perfectly between them during the second inning.

Both Baty in left and Murphy in center dove for the ball. Baty caught it, but Murphy’s head went right into Baty’s side, causing the ball to pop loose. Lipscomb’s Ryan Mitchell ended up with a double.

“You could see both guys sprinting for the ball and both guys lay out for it,” KU coach Ritch Price said. “As soon as I saw them both leave their feet, I knew it was going to be an ugly collision.”

Baty and Murphy were taken to a nearby hospital. Murphy required 40 stitches for his nose and mouth and now is back in the lineup, going 3-for-15 with three stolen bases against the Leathernecks.

Baty, meanwhile, still feels 60 years older – and probably will for some time. He’s not allowed to go to class for another week and is supposed to stay in bed, though he broke the rules and made it out to Hoglund Ballpark to watch his teammates play this weekend.

“It’s six weeks of not doing anything,” Baty said. “No types of workouts or anything. Just rest.”

Though such collisions usually are unavoidable, Baty’s and Murphy’s was especially dangerous because both are natural center fielders with great speed.

“It’s one of those you can’t call until it’s late,” Baty said. “Nobody called anybody off. It’s two guys that are the fastest guys on the team going after the ball. It happens.”

Baty’s paying the price now. He’s staying as involved with the team as much as he can, but that’s hardly anything other than taking the lineup card out to the umpires before the game. He’s not even allowed in the dugout, though he can rest easy – and often – knowing he won’t lose his job due to the setback.

“The day he’s cleared, he’ll be in the starting lineup,” Price said. “He’ll prepare, and he’ll step on the field as if he’s never missed a beat.”