SURPRISE, Ariz. - Most players have tales of babies, travels and golf to share with teammates upon reporting to spring training.

Chris Gimenez had a near-death experience to relate.

The short story: While Gimenez was waiting on a highway exit ramp to go workout on the morning of February 1 in his hometown of Reno, Nev., a snow plow on the freeway clipped a drainage gate and kicked the 36-pound piece of iron some 150 feet into the air. It landed on the roof and cross beam of Gimenez's truck. Gimenez heard a noise, but had no idea what had happened until the back window of his truck shattered.

"I was in shock," said Gimenez, who was hit in the back of the neck by a few shards of glass but was otherwise unharmed. "I had no idea what it was. I've never been in an accident. I heard what sounded like a gun shot and the next thing I know the window is shattering and I'm ducking and covering.

"It was a heck of a way to start the month," he added. "If I survived that, I guess it's going to be my lucky year."

The whole incident is a little hard to grasp, so fortunately Gimenez provided photos.

Here's a step-by-step photo collage:

A snowplow, it's blade lowered, ran over a drainage gate on the highway.

The snow plow kicked up the rectangular piece of iron missing from where the snow currently sits. (Photo courtesy of Chris Gimenez)

It sent the grate flying through the air until it landed on the back part of Gimenez's truck, ripping a hole at the top of the cross beam.

The crease and hole in the middle of the roof of Gimenez's slightly-lifted truck. (Photo courtesy of Chris Gimenez)

The force and impact shattered Gimenez's back window.

The back window was no more, though it has since been fixed (Photo courtesy of Chris Gimenez)

Then the plate came to rest on the bed of Gimenez's truck.

Chris Gimenez may not have a Gold Glove or a Silver Slugger, nut how many players can say they have an iron plate? (Photo courtesy of Chris Gimenez)?

Gimenez has since taken the grate home as something of a souvenir.

"I can only tell you I haven't taken that exit again ," Gimenez said. "I'm just glad to be here."