Rox prospect Dahl resting after splenectomy

DENVER -- Rockies outfield prospect David Dahl was "resting comfortably" Monday night after undergoing surgery to remove his spleen, his agents announced.

Dahl suffered a lacerated spleen in a collision with a teammate on Thursday while playing a home game for Double-A New Britain and underwent surgery. However, he decided to have the splenectomy because he hopes to return this season. Dahl likely would have missed the remainder of the season had he waited for the repaired spleen to heal.

Dahl's agents at Sosnick Cobbe and Karon announced the decision in tweets Sunday night:

Tweet from @SosnickCobbe: .@ddahl21 has made the difficult decision to have his spleen removed tomorrow. Doing so allows him to return (1/2)Tweet from @SosnickCobbe: (2/2) this season instead of next year, though it also brings other challenges. #Courage #Prayers #RonnieLott1986 #Rockies #MiLB

The agency announced the surgery on Sunday night.

Dahl, 21, was Colorado's top pick (10th overall) out of Oak Mountain High School near Birmingham, Ala., in the 2012 MLB Draft. Dahl was the Rookie-level Pioneer League Player of the Year that season (.379, .423 OBP, 10 HR, 57 RBIs). The next year was a struggle at Class A Asheville, when he played just 10 games because of a disciplinary issue followed by a severe hamstring injury. Dahl rebounded last season by hitting a combined .299 with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs at Asheville and Class A Advanced Modesto.

In his first season at Double-A, Dahl hit .222 in April, but heated up to .307 in 25 games in May.

On Thursday, Dahl was going for a popup that landed in the space between him, second baseman Juan Ciriaco and shortstop Trevor Story. Ciriaco tried to avoid Dahl, but his knee struck Dahl, causing the injury. Initial reports were that Dahl might have sustained a concussion and a broken rib, but Rockies senior player development director Zach Wilson announced the next day that there was no concussion and no broken bones.