Rays Double A pitcher Darin Downs was in serious but stable condition after being hit directly in the temple with a line drive, this past Monday night. Downs, a 24-year-old lefty for the Montgomery Biscuits suffered a fractured skull and still remains in the hospital. The liner ricocheted off the pitcher and landed in the opposing team's dugout.
What is happening in baseball lately? This past week Mets 3B David Wright was hospitalized and suffered a concussion after an inside pitch struck him in the head. Then Dodgers SP Hiroki Kuroda was hit in the head and rushed to the hospital. I am almost thinking that pitchers need to start wearing helmets, because sometimes line drives will come so quick that there is absolutely no time to react. These instances are compromising players health and safety, and something needs to be done.
Any head injury is a serious deal, and possibly life threatening. All we can do is pray for Downs and his family, and hope for a speedy and complete recovery. His physical and mental health is the most important thing. God Willing he will be able to come back and play the game he loves most. An injury like this could end a career, leaving some pitchers never the same. Lets hope that is not the case for this talented pitcher.
I work out...I don't need a helmet.
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