‘Couldn’t do anything’: Walsh Jesuit grad Ryan Feltner on skull fracture during MLB game
Growing up in Hudson, Walsh Jesuit graduate and former starting pitcher Ryan Feltner dreamed of playing Major League Baseball.
An early season visit as a member of the Colorado Rockies to Progressive Field to face the Guardians was a chance to play on his field of dreams.
"I'm so used to being in the stands here as a fan, but it was super cool," Feltner told the Beacon Journal. "A lot of family, a lot of friends here, so it was a great experience."
Rarely do student athletes get the opportunity to play on their hometown fields. He beat the Guardians 5-1.
Ryan Felter: Walsh Jesuit High grad takes advantage of his Progressive Field moment
"It's just kind of a speechless thing," Feltner said afterward. "It's hard to put into words. I think I've been here so many times as a kid, but it hasn't been on the mound.”
Weeks later the dream was nearly taken from him. A 92-mph line drive back to the mound nailed Feltner in the back of the head, fracturing his skull and concussing him in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies. He appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” (WEWS, Channel 5) to talk about his journey getting back on the field.
He returned to the mound Sept. 19 in a loss to the San Diego Padres and pitched five scoreless innings. Getting back to that point wasn’t easy, he said.
“Daily activities were pretty tough in the beginning,” he said. “I couldn't make breakfast, couldn't do anything really for myself.”
There was a very real possibility that he would never play again, but he persevered.
“There's one of two ways it could have gone and I didn't want it to go in the negative direction,” he said.
The incident also widened his perspective.
“I think that one of the reasons I wanted to come back was for the story,” he said. “When you come back close to not being able to play again. It switches things up for you and I'm just grateful for every day.”
Ryan Feltner injury: Rockies pitcher released from hospital after skull fracture, concussion from line drive
Cleveland baseball historians can probably understand why.
Pitcher Herb Score was hit by a line drive that many believe altered his career trajectory. Score went from a two-time All-Star, American League strikeout leader with a blazing fastball when he was hit by a line drive from Gil McDougald. He was never the same after.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hudson native, Colorado Rockies P Ryan Feltner talks return on 'GM'
