Encarnacion's Career Is in Jeopardy

[Fish Troll]

Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8umyh860nI

Encarnacion's Career Is in Jeopardy
Sunday, September 2, 2007; Page D09


Cardinals OF Juan Encarnacion will miss the remainder of the season and his career is in jeopardy after suffering multiple fractures of his left eye socket when struck by a foul ball Friday night.

"This is a serious hit, career-threatening," Manager Tony La Russa said yesterday. "The other ones are not to be diminished, like [Chris] Carpenter's arm, but they're not in the same category. It's like Josh[ Hancock]."

The Cardinals have persevered through the death of reliever Hancock, ace pitcher Carpenter's season-ending elbow injury, utilityman Scott Spiezio undergoing treatment for substance abuse and La Russa's DUI in spring training. Friday was a double whammy with Scott Rolen placed on the 15-day disabled list with a shoulder injury that likely will sideline him the rest of the season, and then Encarnacion's frightening injury.

Encarnacion, 31, was hospitalized for continued observation, evaluation and treatment. The team said in a statement he would be reevaluated daily and that the long-term prognosis was "undetermined at this time."

Encarnacion was struck while waiting in the on-deck circle in the sixth inning of Friday's game against the Reds. He was about to pinch-hit and had no time to react when Aaron Miles was late on an outside pitch.

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/01/AR2007090101203.html

It doesn't look like he will never have the same vision again, and if that happen, then he should retire baseball because he'll be handicap hitting for his rest of his career.

[seaver41]

This was terrible. I hope he can at least recover his vision. I read they can't really give a more definite answer until the swelling has gone down.

[yankeeswonseries]

The Cardinals clubhouse is a death trap. Stay away .

Good player, hope hes alright.

[#1 Jays Fan]

this is sad news

[Fish Troll]

And that why when I'm on deck, I take my warm up swing behind the hitter back.

[seaver41]

I wonder if they will start to make some regulations for guys on deck. Like you have to face away from the hitter and if you want to watch the AB, you have to crouch and not be holding anything.

[Fish Troll]

Update:

Cardinals outfielder still in hospital, career could be over after serious eye injury

By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer
September 2, 2007

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- 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.

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.

sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-cardinals-encarnacion&prov=ap&type=lgns

[seaver41]

At least he hasn't lost all of his vision. I hope he can recover and at least get on with his life.