Tonight, none of that mattered.
On 20 April of this year relief pitcher Danny Farquhar collapsed in the dugout after pitching the sixth inning of a game against the Houston Astros.
Farquhar had just thrown ⅔ of an inning, giving up two runs on two hits, with a strikeout. The White Sox were down 9-0 at that point, and would lose 10-0 to the defending World Champions.
The more important matter was getting the medical attention Farquhar needed, and immediately. It was discovered that the 31-year-old journeyman reliever had suffered a brain hemorrhage, as a result of a ruptured aneurysm. Farquhar remained in RUSH University Medical Center for 18 days, before being released on 7 May. More astounding is more than a third of brain hemorrhage cases die before the patient even reaches the hospital.
As someone who had a life-threatening brain issue as a toddler, I can relate to the struggles Danny Farquhar and his family went through over the past six weeks. It is a feeling no person or family should ever have to deal with, regardless of their age. However, the brain does what it wants, and we are all powerless when it decides to react in a similar fashion.
As someone who had a life-threatening brain issue as a toddler, I can relate to the struggles Danny Farquhar and his family went through over the past six weeks. It is a feeling no person or family should ever have to deal with, regardless of their age. However, the brain does what it wants, and we are all powerless when it decides to react in a similar fashion.
RUMC doctors naturally deemed Farquhar unable to pitch the rest of this season, and the White Sox originally placed him on the 10-day disabled list the day after the incident, but quickly moved him to the 60-day DL on 23 April, effectively ending his season.
Farquhar underwent several surgeries to alleviate the pressure on his brainstem, and was placed in critical condition early on.
Tonight, Farquhar stepped onto the diamond at Guaranteed Rate Field for the first time since that frightening event. Joined by his wife Alexandria, and his three children (Madison, Landon, and Liam), Danny Farquhar walked to the mound wearing his White Sox jersey for the ceremonial first pitch.
Granted he had to pick up Liam, who was playing in the dirt directly in front of the White Sox dugout...
Speaking of said dugout, it was noticeably empty, with Farquhar and family standing just out onto the field from the railing. As Farquhar made his way to the mound, you could see the entire White Sox roster, including the training staff standing mere feet behind the mound, spanning nearly the entire width of the diamond.
Farquhar told Good Morning America “I just wanna hit the mitt. I just want it to be somewhere close to the mitt,” with Alexandria laughing just off to the side.
There was no sign from behind home plate, no leg kick, or slide step. The soft toss would have been about letter-high, and likely called a ball. However, it was the most important pitch Farquhar will ever throw in his life.
It is not the last pitch Farquhar intends to throw in a Major League ballpark. Farquhar has said multiple times he is working towards making a full recovery, so he can step out in full uniform as soon as next season.
Farquhar is only signed with the White Sox through this season on a $1.050 million contract. He is eligible for salary arbitration each of the next two seasons. Seeing him return to the diamond wearing anything other than a black hat reading “SOX” is the only way this near-tragedy can be put to a a permanent hiatus.
Farquhar finished his 2018 season pitching eight innings, with a record of 1-1, a 5.63 ERA, and 9 strikeouts to zero walks. More importantly, he has one extra appearance that will not make it into the official record books.
Not to mention one very dirty set of toddler clothes that have to be washed when he gets home this evening.
-JC24