Feltner appreciates support during recovery process

DENVER -- Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner was touched by the immediate messages of support he received from teammates on May 14 -- the night he sustained a concussion and a fractured skull after being hit with a line drive in a game against the Phillies at Coors Field.

“I’d like to say it’s expected, knowing the guys that are in there,” Feltner said on Friday afternoon, speaking to the media for the first time since the injury.

“But overwhelming. It was great to have that support from the teammates, especially that night. It’s super special.”

And while dealing with the pain, dizziness, affected hearing and worry, Feltner found time to feel for the Phillies’ Nick Castellanos, whose liner struck Feltner on the right side of the head, above the ear.

"We haven't communicated, but he sent me a little letter and a nice little gift, so that was part of [the support I have received],” Feltner said. “For me, it was part of the process. I felt bad for him, because I saw how upset he was. But it's part of the game."

Feltner has been around the club on and off for a few days. He took a small recovery step on Thursday with balancing exercises. The right-hander said he is limiting television and screen time, and feels most comfortable in open areas.

His parents, Laura and Derek, arrived the day after the injury, and have remained in Denver with him.

All are concerned about recovery, rather than timelines.

“There isn’t a set program, like a Tommy John [surgery] program or anything like that,” Rockies Major League rehabilitation coordinator Scott Murayama said. “We don’t have any kind of timelines at this time.

“We take steps to make sure that the symptoms resolve, make sure the fracture heals, then slowly start back into activities."

Feltner was discharged from a local hospital a day after the injury, which did not require surgery.

“With concussions nowadays, it’s different than it used to be,” Murayama said. “You don’t keep them isolated or keep them in a dark room. You get them moving and active to a certain extent as soon as possible to help them take those steps forward.”

Manager Bud Black said, “He's on the mend and he's doing better. And it makes all of us feel good that he's recuperating at a pace that is just encouraging. It’s good for all of us.”

Feltner said he also has heard from Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt, who was with the Athletics when he was hit in the face with a line drive on Aug. 17, 2021.

Bassitt returned a little more than four weeks later and he has continued as a successful Major League starter.

While Feltner wants to return and continue making forward strides -- he had a run of good starts -- he is concentrating on the steps necessary to be healthy.

“I've looked a little bit at some stuff that I can do to improve on the field, but put that down pretty quick just to make sure I'm taking care of the mental side first, and making sure day-to-day tasks are normal for me,” Feltner said.

“And once we get that bridge kind of going, I'll start to look at the other stuff -- the timelines, baseball-specific things. But for now it's on the back burner.”