Danny Farquhar Returns to White Sox to Throw Out First Pitch

On April 20, Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Danny Farquhar, who is 31, was stricken with a brain hemorrhage that was caused by a ruptured aneurysm when pitching against Houston.

While in the dugout he collapsed and medical personnel on-site rushed Farquhar to a nearby hospital for emergency surgery followed by extensive treatment. Five day later, is the first memory Farquhar had after he awoke at the hospital.

He said he remembers walking to the White Sox bullpen at 6:30 pm, but does not remember entering the game or pitching.

Seventeen days after the incident, on May 7, Farquhar walked out of the hospital.

On Friday, he returned to the pitcher’s mound for just the first time. With medical staff, wife, his three children and teammates standing behind him, Farquhar threw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the White Sox game versus the Milwaukee Brewers. His catcher for the pitch was another reliever for the team Nate Jones.

Chicago manager Rick Renteria called what happened miraculous. He added that Farquhar was very driven so he was not surprised that he was on the field throwing a ceremonial first pitch.

Since being discharged from the hospital, Farquhar has remained at home and is continuing treatment while recovering. While doctors have given him the okay to throw a baseball, they have not medically released the pitcher to pitch professionally in 2018, as he must have his stress and blood pressure levels closely monitored. In addition, Farquhar said he continues to have memory issues.

Farquhar said the big leagues are much different than just throwing the ball around at home, but he does believe he will return to play one day.

Farquhar, while holding the hand of his wife Lexie, talked about a newfound perspective he has gain since suffering his brain hemorrhage.

He understands now how quickly things can change from one day pitching for the White Sox to waking up in a hospital with staples and a drain in your head and no memories of what happened, puts life quickly into perspective.

The White Sox will donate a part of the ticket sales as well as proceeds from fundraising efforts for Friday’s game, in which the White Sox won 8-3, to the Joe Niekro Foundation, which supports patients as well as families and helps raise funds for treatment, awareness and research of brain aneurysms.