By Marc Topkin, Times staff writer
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeremy Hellickson was hit on the head by a home run during Tigers' batting practice today in Detroit and taken to a hospital.
Hellickson was released from the hospital and was back in the Rays clubhouse during the game, and said afterward he felt fine and planned to make his next start.
"I'll be out there Saturday,'' he said.
Hellickson had x-rays, a CT scan and concussion-related tests at Harper Hospital, and will have additional concussion-related tests on Thursday. But aside from some swelling near his left eye, he said he had no other injuries.
And while several members of the Rays said Hellickson did not lose consciousness, Hellickson said he thinks he blacked out briefly since he didn't remember falling to the ground.
Manager Joe Maddon said a decision will be made Thursday on when Hellickson next pitches.
Hellickson was throwing his between -starts bullpen session before the game when he went down, with trainers and paramedics racing to his aid.
Bullpen coach Stan Boroski said Hellickson had just thrown a pitch. Several Tigers yelled, "Heads up!" but as soon as Hellickson turned he was hit on the left side of the head, just above the eye, and "went down."
Hellickson was able to answer the paramedics' questions with no problem.
Pitching coach Jim Hickey said Hellickson went down after being hit, not from the force of the ball. The ball struck the bill of Hellickson's cap, Hickey said, which should have deflected some of the force.
Hellickson was two pitches from the end of his session.
Hickey said there were two contributing factors to the unusual incident: 1) The Rays normally wouldn't throw bullpen sessions during batting practice but have little choice with both teams hitting before a day game, and 2) the Tigers do not put up screens to protect pitchers in the bullpen, as they do in some other stadiums.