Rockies prospect David Dahl has spleen removed after gruesome collision
Colorado Rockies outfield prospect David Dahl will miss significant time after being involved in a gruesome collision. Dahl collided with second baseman Juan Ciriaco on a flyball hit to shallow center. Both players were running at full speed when they hit each other.
Though Dahl was eventually able to walk off the field under his own power, he was taken to a hospital immediately. There, it was determined that Dahl would need to undergo surgery to repair his spleen.
Following the incident, Dahl sent out a message of encouragement to his fans.
Assistant general manager Zach Wilson initially told the Denver Post that there was no timeline for Dahl’s return, though it was assumed he would miss the rest of the season.
That may no longer be the case. In order to return to the field faster, Dahl opted to have his spleen removed Monday. The typical recovery from this type of surgery is 4-6 weeks, allowing Dahl to return to action this season.
After consulting with his agent, Adam Karon, Dahl made his decision, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.
“David has put in an incredible amount of work the last two offseasons, and he just couldn’t fathom the idea of a shortened season,” Karon said. “That’s what I think drove his thinking.
“A normal person would just leave the spleen in. But for an athlete, there’s an additional risk of the spleen rupturing again in a collision. David said, ‘I can’t play the rest of my career worrying about this, and I don’t want to miss any more time this year than I have to.'”
Removal of the spleen does come with other complications. Dahl will need to receive yearly vaccinations to ensure he doesn’t get sick. He’ll also have to take medications that prevent minor illness from turning into something more serious.
“There are some challenges he’ll have to deal with for the rest of his life,” Karon said.
The 21-year-old Dahl was the 10th overall pick in the 2012 draft. Over four seasons in the minors, Dahl has hit .315/.352/.506. He entered 2015 as the 22nd best prospect in the game according to Baseball America.
Dahl was also rated as the Rockies top prospect by Baseball America prior to the season. He’s described as a “potential five-tool player” and a “pure hitter.”
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Dahl began the season in Double-A, but may have moved quickly had he continued to hit. Many expected him to be close to major-league ready by 2016, though it’s unclear how the injury will impact his rise to the big leagues.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
