Thursday, March 24, 2011
Posted: 10:35 a.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
CLEARWATER, Fla.Swollen but smiling, Roy Oswalt was back in uniform at Phillies camp Thursday, one day after a scary incident in which he was struck by a line drive on the back of his neck.
Ive been in a few fights in my life and been hit pretty hard, but that one right there stunned me for a little bit when it first hit me, the pitcher said.
Oswalt was hit by a line drive back to the mound by Tampa Bays Manny Ramirez in the fourth inning of Wednesdays game at Port Charlotte. He was struck behind the right ear. X-rays and a CT scan were negative. The back of Oswalts neck was visibly swollen and feeling stiff Thursday morning, but the pitcher was in good spirits and expects to pitch on Monday, his next scheduled turn. It remains to be seen whether hell pitch in a major-league game or minor-league game.
Fortunately for Oswalt, Ramirez didnt get great wood on the ball that struck the pitcher.
He didnt hit it the best he could, Oswalt said. I saw it out in front of me. I tried to duck. It had a little backspin on it and it kind of tracked me.
MLB
Oswalt lay on the ground for about a minute and left the field under his own power.
I was laying on the ground thinking, Did I just get hit?Oswalt said. It surprises you more than anything. I thought about getting up but athletic trainer Mark Andersen made me stay there. I think I could have kept pitching.
Oswalt had been hit by batted balls before, but never in the head or neck. Its a scary thing for any pitcher.
Oswalt was asked if he felt lucky.
Yeah, he said. I actually had a good friend who got hit in the neck. Mike Coolbaugh, he played with us for the Astros. We used to play cards all the time in spring training. I knew him well.
Coolbaugh was killed in the summer of 2007 when he was stuck in the neck by a line drive while coaching first base for a Colorado Rockies minor-league team.
Replays of Oswalt being struck were shown frequently on Wednesday. He received many text messages from friends around baseball. Ramirez did not reach out to Oswalt.
Oswalt drove himself to Wednesdays game in Port Charlotte, two hours south of Clearwater. Teammate Brian Schneider took the wheel on the ride back as Oswalt rested.
I told Charlie Manuel Im not supposed to be making road trips, Oswalt said with a laugh. This is what happens when you make road trips.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com
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