Feltner on IL with skull fracture, concussion after line drive
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DENVER – 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.”
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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.