How Feltner views his progress toward return

This story was excerpted from Thomas Harding’s Rockies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Not long after a batted ball fractured his skull, Rockies right-hander Ryan Feltner longed to take a baseball in his fingers and exert control over it.

“The first week or so, I wasn’t thinking that way at all,” said Feltner, who was hit by a line drive from the Phillies’ Nick Castellanos on May 13. “But Week 2 came around and I went into offseason mode: ‘I’m going to start from scratch, throwing. How can I maximize that time?’

“What happened to me was crazy. I’ve thrown thousands of pitches in my life and it’s not happened. That’s the way I’m trying to look at it going forward.”

Feltner took time to absorb the outpouring of support before issuing an Instagram post of appreciation.

Feltner also hopes to return the cards and letters sent from fans and colleagues in the game. He took time to absorb the outpouring of support.

There is no timetable on Feltner’s return, although he said this week he’d like some form of game action -- Major League, Minor League, even instructional ball. During the Rockies’ last road trip, Feltner went to the team’s complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he was cleared for light throwing.

Feltner has kept that up in Denver, along with arm care exercises and some moderate physical training. On Monday, he will return to Arizona, where his mornings will consist of appointments at the Banner Concussion Center. His afternoons will be devoted to throwing -- likely at 90 feet, from the current 60 -- and workouts that he’ll be cleared to perform. He’ll take an All-Star break, then return to rehabbing.

He described being able to throw as “incredible,” since it’s what he enjoys best, and noted that the hard lifting and running are later hurdles to clear.

“I’m four or five throwing sessions in now, and having to pump the brakes a little bit as far as my arm conditioning goes, but it’s going really well,” said Feltner, who added that he will talk to equipment experts before deciding whether to wear a head protection device when he returns.

Feltner, 26, was 2-3 with a 5.86 ERA and had three strong starts in April and early May. Studying the results, Feltner said he is at his best as a “power pitcher with lots of changeups.” He wants to build his weight to around 201, about nine pounds more than now, and keep an aggressive mindset.

“It’s coming slower than some people, and that’s fine,” Feltner said. “I’m not going to stop learning. Hopefully, I can accelerate the process.

“It’s more of a workshop mindset now. I like being in compete mode, too, but I can maximize this time.”