May 13, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner (18) lays on the mound after getting hit by a line drive by Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos in the second inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: John Leyba-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Colorado Rockies
(Denver, CO) — The Rockies are sharing a scary injury update on pitcher Ryan Feltner.
Colorado manager Bud Black said on Sunday that Feltner suffered a skull fracture and a concussion after getting hit by a line drive in Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Feltner was hit on the back of the head as he tried to duck and avoid a 92.7-mph line drive off the bat of Nick Castellanos.
“As soon as I touched first, I turned around and was just really hoping that what happened didn’t happen,” Castellanos said.
The 26-year-old immediately fell to the ground and but didn’t appear to lose consciousness. After spending a few minutes on the ground, he was helped to his feet before being escorted off the field by Colorado training staff.
“Overall, he’s fine,” Rockies manager Bud Black told reporters. “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.”
Black added that the right-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list and that he just “needs time to let the fractures heal and the concussion to diminish.”
Feltner has started eight games this season, sporting a 2-and-3 record with a 5.86 ERA.
