MLB institutes 7-day DL for concussions

(CBS/AP) Concussions have been making NFL headlines for two years and just last month, the NHL was confronted with a PR crisis in the wake of a devastating hit.

Now baseball is finally waking up to what one medical group has called the "concussion crisis" in sports.

On Tuesday, MLB and its players union announced a new set of protocols for dealing with concussions, including the creation of a new seven-day disabled list for players with the injury.

The league and the union announced the protocols in a joint statement on Tuesday. They include mandatory baseline testing for all players and umpires and new steps for evaluating players who may have suffered the injury and for having them return to action.

The new guidelines will be in effect starting on Opening Day.

The new disabled list is in addition to the 15-day and 60-day DLs that already exist for players with injuries.

Each team will also have to designate a specialist who deals with mild brain injuries to evaluate players and umpires when needed.

That may be good news to players like Twins star Justin Morneau and Mets outfielder Jason Bay - both of whom suffered debilitating concussions last year.

Bay recently told the AP that the injury, once dismissed in clubhouses, has finally gotten the attention of players.

"You got your bell rung? Take a couple of Tylenol and get back out there," Bay said. "We know a lot more now."