The Colorado Rockies say pitcher Ryan Feltner suffered a fractured skull after being hit in the head by a line drive against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.
Nick Castellanos hit a 1-0 slider back to the mound at 92.7 mph in the second inning of the game. The ball hit Feltner’s neck. The right-hander immediately collapsed to the ground as the ball deflected to first baseman CJ Cron. Castellanos was safe with a single.
Feltner did not appear to lose consciousness. He lay on his stomach and squinted as two members of Colorado’s training staff ran toward the mound. With the crowd silent, Feltner finally got to his feet and then rose to his feet with catcher Elías Díaz standing next to him.
Feltner, 26, left with the help of two staff members as fans at Coors Field cheered.
Castellanos, who appeared in the clubhouse shaken up after the game, said he was in contact with Rockies players to check on Feltner’s condition.
“There was a part of me that wanted to go to the mound, but I guess the player takes over and you run to first,” Castellanos said when asked about his initial reaction. “As soon as I played first, I turned around and really hoped that what just happened didn’t happen.”
Phillies slugger Bryce Harper noted that Castellanos did not make full contact with the field.
“It’s terrible. I’m thankful Nick didn’t really fix baseball to the best of his ability,” Harper said. “We all wish him the best.”
Castellanos added: “A lot of remorse, worry, worry. I don’t know, I’ve become soft since I have children. I do not like those things”.