Rockies pitcher Feltner fractures skull after taking 93 mph line-drive to head

The Colorado Rockies say pitcher Ryan Feltner suffered a fractured skull after being struck in the head by a line drive against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.

Nick Castellanos lined a 1-0 slider back to the mound at 92.7 mph in the second inning of the game. The ball hit the back of Feltner’s head. The right-hander immediately collapsed to the ground as the ball deflected to first baseman CJ Cron. Castellanos was safe with a single.

Feltner didn’t appear to lose consciousness. He lay on his stomach and was squinting his eyes as two members of the Colorado training stuff sprinted to the mound. With the crowd hushed, Feltner eventually sat up, then got to his feet with catcher Elias Diaz standing next to him.

The 26-year-old Feltner walked off with the assistance of two staff members as the fans at Coors Field applauded.

Castellanos, who appeared shaken in the clubhouse after the game, said he was in touch with Rockies players to check on Feltner’s status.

“There was a part of me that wanted to go to the mound, but I guess the baseball player takes over and you run to first,” Castellanos said when asked his initial reaction. “As soon as I touched first I turned around and was really hoping what just happened didn’t happen.”

Phillies slugger Bryce Harper noted Castellanos didn’t make full contact with the pitch.

“It’s terrible. I’m just thankful that Nick didn’t really square up the baseball the best he could,” Harper said. “We’re all wishing him the best.”

Castellanos added: “A lot of remorse, concern, worry. I don’t know, I’ve turned into a softy since I had kids. I don’t like stuff like that.”