Eye injury may end Encarnacion's career

[crkone]

The damage a foul ball did to Juan Encarnacion's left eye was the worst the St. Louis Cardinals' medical director has ever seen to a baseball player.



Encarnacion

Dr. George Paletta was not optimistic Sunday that the outfielder will regain full vision after his frightening injury and resume his career.

"It's the worst trauma I've seen. Absolutely," Paletta said, adding that the future holds no guarantees. "You hope the best for Juan, but he suffered a severe injury with a very guarded prognosis.

"It's way too early to say whether he will or he won't, and if he doesn't what percentage of vision loss he may have."

Paletta said the eye socket was essentially crushed on impact, comparing the injured area to the disintegration of an egg shell or ice cream cone, and that the optic nerve had sustained severe trauma. Reconstructive surgery may not take place for several days while doctors wait for swelling to subside.

Paletta said there was no rupture to the eyeball.

Encarnacion, who is in the second year of a three-year free agent contract, crumpled to the grass after being struck while waiting to pinch hit in the on-deck circle in the sixth inning on Friday. He remained hospitalized with a concussion and multiple fractures to the eye socket.

Encarnacion, 31, was still experiencing headaches and nausea, preventing his release. Paletta said a positive sign was that the outfielder's vision had improved some, although he anticipated that progress would be slow.

"So at this point we keep our fingers crossed, say a prayer for him and make sure he's getting the best treatment he can get," Paletta said.

With heavy hearts, the Cardinals swept the Reds in a three-game weekend series. Rick Ankiel hit a go-ahead grand slam later in the inning after Encarnacion was injured, and several hours after Scott Rolen went on the 15-day disabled list with a season-ending shoulder injury.

The Cardinals beat the Reds 3-2 on Sunday.

"Juan's situation is really hard on the team, and Scott's situation is tough," Jim Edmonds said. "No one is going to feel sorry for us, so we have to play."

Encarnacion missed the first 1

[goirish2107]

he's lucky to be alive. man that has to be scary, coming right after mike coolbaugh. the entire eye socket disintegrated like an egg shell or an ice cream cone? wow. i remember them saying it hit him flush on and bounced a few feet away. direct shot to the eye. hopefully he'll be able to fully recover, that would be an incredible story. i really think something needs to be done about on deck circle at least, there is no reason to put people lives/careers in danger, no matter how small the chance.

[John6988]

Link to video of injury??

[crkone]

Link to video of injury??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziYcG0CHVLg

[bigkurty]

Damn that does suck. Poor Guy. They should do something with the batters box I agree.

On another note, the other day when Derrick Lee almost impaled himself on that glass at Wrigley, I was shocked to see they had an open area with corners like that. How stupid. I would think they would fix that after that incident.

[livestrong4ever]

Damn that does suck. Poor Guy. They should do something with the batters box I agree.

On another note, the other day when Derrick Lee almost impaled himself on that glass at Wrigley, I was shocked to see they had an open area with corners like that. How stupid. I would think they would fix that after that incident.

You would think all ball parks would after what happend to overbay.

[trwi7]

-= original quote snipped =-



You would think all ball parks would after what happend to overbay.

I remember they padded that glass up in St. Louis the night after Overbay cut his chin on it.

[SheedsWeed]

Wow, poor guy, I feel really bad for him. I hope everything ends up ok for him, damn.

[John6988]

wow that looked like it hurt.. he didnt even have time to react.. hope he's alright.