Feltner on IL with skull fracture, concussion after line drive
This browser does not support the video element.
DENVER ¨C Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner sustained a skull fracture and a concussion Saturday night, when he was struck by a line drive off the bat of the Phillies¡¯ Nick Castellanos, manager Bud Black said on Sunday.
Feltner was able to text with Black and his teammates on Saturday night, which eased some of the concern, Black said.
¡°What we found out was he has a small skull fracture and he¡¯s concussed ¡ but overall, he's fine,¡± Black said. ¡°The feeling¡¯s that it could have been worse, obviously. But he¡¯s going to miss some time.
¡°Ryan was communicating with players via text, so he was pretty stable by the time the game ended and guys were getting home, 11 o¡¯clock, midnight. He was texting with our medical staff, his parents, and we texted last night. He was obviously in a concussion state, but he was fairly lucid.¡±
This browser does not support the video element.
The fracture did not require surgery, Black said, so it will be a matter of rest and healing. The doctors have assured Feltner that the fracture will heal.
¡°The biggest thing is he has to let the trauma heal and let nature take its course on this one,¡± Black said. ¡°He suffered a head injury. Time is the best healer. From everything that I¡¯ve been told here this morning, things are looking up.¡±
Black said Feltner could visit the ballpark Monday or Tuesday.
Right-handed reliever Riley Pint was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday to fill Feltner¡¯s place on the active roster. How the Rockies will adjust the rotation is to be determined.