News
Reds cautious with Rolen's return
Third baseman sits second straight game after beaning
By Steve Gartner / MLB.com
08/04/09 8:14 PM ET
CINCINNATI -- The Reds are taking a safe approach with Scott Rolen as their newly acquired third baseman recovers from being hit in the head by a pitch thrown by Rockies pitcher Jason Marquis. Rolen was out of the lineup for the second consecutive game Tuesday against the Cubs. Rolen, who said he still hurts in the spot he was hit, received a CAT scan Monday with everything looking OK on his MRI. "It still hurts in the spot where the ball hit me through the helmet," Rolen said. "It is really sensitive."Rolen, who wasn't sure if he actually had a concussion, said his MRI results showed no internal bleeding.
"They said I had almost the size of a normal human brain," Rolen quipped. "I was real pleased with that."
Rolen had a headache Monday from the beaning but felt better after a day of rest. He said he took part in hitting and drills to prepare for his return to the field. "Better to be safe than sorry right now," Rolen said. "I just went in to try and get my heart rate up and felt all right with that. I hit and they want me to do some running and agility stuff, bend over and field some ground balls to make sure I don't have any symptoms." Reds manager Dusty Baker said Rolen needs to make sure he has no dizziness before he gets back onto the field. "As much as we want him back and need him, we have to take care of him too," Baker said. Rolen and Marquis are good friends and former teammates who played together with the Cardinals. After the play, Marquis was visibly upset and has called to check in on Rolen. "He was pretty shook up. If he wanted to come in, just let me know," Rolen quipped. Rolen is 0-for-6 in two games so far with the Reds. He said that's the hardest he has ever been hit in the head. "Unless you want to count seventh grade pole vault, because that knocked me out for three minutes," Rolen joked. "That almost knocked me out. I was a little fuzzy for the first five or 10 seconds until I actually sat up."Steve Gartner is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
