Minor leaguer Evan Marshall recovering from skull fracture after line drive
Evan Marshall, a minor league pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, is recovering from a fractured skull after being struck in the head by a line drive on Tuesday night in El Paso, Texas.
The Diamondbacks updated Marshall’s condition this weekend, stating that his injury required surgery to alleviate swelling. He’s currently listed in stable condition but remains in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Pitcher Evan Marshall was struck on the head by a line drive on the right temple during Tuesday night’s game in El Paso and as a result, suffered a fractured skull. His injury required surgery to alleviate swelling and pressure and he is in stable condition but remains in the hospital’s intensive care unit. He is alert and has been engaging in conversation and is able to walk.
Evan and his family would like to pass along their sincere appreciation to all of the fans and friends for their prayers and well wishes. They would also like to thank the D-backs organization, the Reno Aces, the El Paso Chihuahuas, the hospital staff and everyone who has been involved in helping him return to health and assisting his family during the past several days.
Marshall, who pitches for the Reno Aces, the Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliate, was pitching in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game when he was struck by a line drive off the bat of El Paso’s Jason Hagerty. According to reports at the ballpark, Marshall was able to walk off the field with the help of his teammates, but there was obviously still great concern for his well-being.
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As the update confirms, the concern was well-placed. But the good news is it sounds like Marshall is doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances, and is on the road to recovery. That’s all anybody wants to hear after such a traumatic situation.
“It’s scary to be a player and see something like that happen,” said pitcher Allen Webster, who was promoted from Reno to Arizona following Tuesday’s game. “All you can do is hope for the best and put him in your prayers and hope he gets better soon. It was just hit so hard nobody could have reacted that fast.”
Marshall, 25, was a big part of the Diamondbacks bullpen last season, posting a 2.74 ERA in 57 games. He returned to his role this season, but struggled with a 6.08 ERA in 13 games for Arizona. Though those struggles continued at Triple-A, where Marshall currently sports a 6.40, there was obviously still hope for a return to the majors. That hope continues now, but his road back to the show will be considerably different as he overcomes his injury and the new challenge it presents.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
