The extent of Rockies pitcher Ryan Feltner’s injuries were disclosed Sunday after he took a line drive to the head Saturday night.
The 26-year-old righty suffered a “small skull fracture” and a concussion, with hopes to be released on Sunday afternoon, Rockies manager Bud Black told reporters on Sunday.
“Feltner was able to communicate with players via text while at the hospital last night where he stayed under observation,” AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain host Jenny Cavnar wrote on Twitter.
Black also said, “the feeling is that it could have been worse.”
In the second inning of the Phillies’ 7-4 win on Saturday, Philadelphia’s right fielder Nick Castellanos lined a 1-0 slider back to the mound at 92.7 mph, hitting the back right of Feltner’s head.
Feltner immediately dropped to the ground, hat off, and holding the back of his head.
The ball deflected toward first baseman C.J. Cron, who grabbed the ball and raised his arms up as he made his way to the mound.
Castellanos was safe with a single.
After the incident, the crowd was silent as Feltner was lying on his stomach while being tended to by Colorado’s training staff.
He eventually sat up, helped to his feet, and the crowd cheered him off the field with the help of staff members.
“There was a part of me that wanted to go to the mound, but I guess the baseball player takes over and you run to first,” Castellanos said after the game. “As soon as I touched first, I turned around and was really hoping what just happened didn’t happen.”
“A lot of remorse, concern, worry. I don’t know, I’ve turned into a softy since I had kids. I don’t like stuff like that,” he added.
Feltner gave up four runs, four hits and four walks before exiting the game.