Vince Velasquez Feels ‘great' Hours After Believing Arm Was Broken

The Phillies can take a deep breath with Vince Velasquez. X-rays were negative and the right-hander said he felt "great" mere hours after being struck by a 96 mph line drive in the right forearm.

"I'm great. I'm alive," Velasquez said in the Phillies' clubhouse, with no bruise or mark in sight. 

"It was a nice hit but it caught me right on the fat. I'm very optimistic and nothing is severe, nothing is broken."

Velasquez will be evaluated Sunday morning by team doctors and is unsure whether he'll make his next start, which as of now, lines up for next Saturday in Pittsburgh. That will be determined by how he feels tomorrow and early this week.

The play he was able to complete, despite the injury, was one Phillies fans won't forget. Not only was it an impressive web-gem, not only did it come with his non-throwing arm, but the play itself defined resiliency.

After being struck on the right arm by Adam Eaton's sharp line drive, Velasquez threw off his glove, raced toward the ball to the left of the mound and fired a strike to nail Eaton by a step at first base (see story)

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When you win by one run, every little play takes on added importance after the game. And in that second inning, if Eaton is safe, the Nationals have runners on the corners with Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon due up.

"Instinctively, I just had the intention to make a throw. I didn't know where the ball was gonna go," Velasquez said. "I just hoped that I could get the ball and finish the play. Getting that out was huge and I had actually surprised myself throwing a strike right there.

"Safe or out, I just tried to finish the play. I was still standing on my feet until the end, until finishing the play. Getting the out is a little bit more rewarding but if he was safe, shoot. The play wasn't over and I still had a little bit in me. Adrenaline-type thing."

After completing the assist, Velasquez fell to the ground and writhed in pain. He said his arm went numb and negativity raced through his mind. He thought something was broken - and broken in one of the most key areas for a right-handed pitcher.

"It was one of those feelings where you just go down," he said. "I couldn't uphold myself."

Throwing lefty is not brand new to Velasquez. In high school, he had a bone spur in his right arm and wound up playing centerfield left-handed. 

And just a day before needing to make this unorthodox play, Velasquez impressed a teammate with his left-handed velocity.

"Jake Arrieta asked me when was the last time you threw lefty and I said I threw a ball lefty to Carlos (Santana) in between innings and he kind've got surprised himself. That was the last time, which was yesterday," Velasquez said. 

"So kinda warmed up for that play today."

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