June 3 will be a day that lives forever in Tyler Zombro‘s mind. The Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguer was struck in the head with a line drive up the middle that night, causing him to drop to the mound face first and begin shaking uncontrollably. He was wheeled off the diamond on a stretcher, and was hospitalized at Duke University Hospital.
On Thursday, Zombro posted on Twitter about his progress, sharing pictures and a video clip showing him walking.
Unbelievably grateful to be in the situation I’m currently in with the incredible help from @DukeHospital & staff. To all of you that have showered my family and I with positive thoughts, I have no doubt that all of the prayer support kept God with me throughout that night, pic.twitter.com/a1eHgNUOAx
— Tyler Zombro (@T_Zombro24) June 17, 2021
Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguer Tyler Zombro provides positive update on health
In the course of the thread, Zombro mentioned that he is looking forward to getting back on the mound. Despite his frightening, and life threatening, ordeal, he is looking forward to competing once more, toeing the rubber and chasing his dream of reaching the majors.
But there are other, more important things to worry about now. Zombro may have been discharged from the hospital, but he is still undergoing therapy. His road to recovery is going to be a long one, and that does not even include the rehab he would need to go through in order to pitch again.
Prior to the abrupt pause to his minor league campaign, Zombro had put together a solid season for the Durham Bulls. He had a 3.18 ERA and a 1.412 WHiP in his 11.1 innings, striking out nine batters while issuing just one walk. Zombro was still working his way back into shape after missing the entire 2020 season, but he was showing plenty of promise.
Zombro has overcome the odds before. He was not a highly regarded prospect, someone that did not make any of the Rays’ top prospect lists. Missing all of last season pushed him further behind other arms in the system. But the Rays had been keeping an eye on Zombro with the idea that he could help at the major league level. If he can find his way back to the mound and overcome that horrific injury, Zombro may end up fulfilling that promise after all.
Tyler Zombro showed his progress on Twitter, thanking fans for their thoughts. The Tampa Bay Rays pitcher still has a long road, but he is hopeful.