Atlanta Braves minor league manager Luis Salazar, who was hit in the face by a line drive last week, has had his left eye removed, general manager Frank Wren said Wednesday.
It was the third surgery for Salazar since he was hit. Salazar, who will manage the Braves' Class A team in Lynchburg, Va., fully intends to return to work. Wren said Salazar could be released from the hospital on Wednesday.
"As the doctor told us from the very beginning, the big picture, this is a really good outcome. He's alive," Wren said Wednesday. "At this point, they don't anticipate further [facial] surgeries. They will re-evaluate as they go."
Braves players have been kept informed of Salazar's condition throughout the entire ordeal, Wren said.
The 54-year-old Salazar will be away from camp for about a week and then return to get acquainted with the players he will manage this season.
"Luis is progressing well. Right now he's focused on getting back to work."
Salazar was struck by Brian McCann's foul liner while standing in the dugout during a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
McCann took himself out of the game moments after the accident before going to the hospital to be with Salazar and his family.
"Yesterday was a tragic day," McCann told reporters at Braves camp last Thursday. "It's just a helpless, sick feeling."
Salazar was struck while standing on the top step of the first-base dugout.
Chipper Jones was on first base when the accident occurred. He said Salazar was leaning against a dugout railing and toppled backward, hitting his head on the concrete floor.
"There were two things," Jones said. "First he got hit, then he fell backward and hit his head on the floor of the dugout. It was bad enough when he got hit but worse when he hit the floor."
Salazar played in the major leagues from 1980 to 1992 for the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox. He mostly played third base, was a career .261 hitter with 94 home runs and played in the 1984 World Series for the Padres.
He was the Double-A hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers the past three seasons.
It was the third surgery for Salazar since he was hit. Salazar, who will manage the Braves' Class A team in Lynchburg, Va., fully intends to return to work. Wren said Salazar could be released from the hospital on Wednesday.
"As the doctor told us from the very beginning, the big picture, this is a really good outcome. He's alive," Wren said Wednesday. "At this point, they don't anticipate further [facial] surgeries. They will re-evaluate as they go."
Braves players have been kept informed of Salazar's condition throughout the entire ordeal, Wren said.
The 54-year-old Salazar will be away from camp for about a week and then return to get acquainted with the players he will manage this season.
"Luis is progressing well. Right now he's focused on getting back to work."
Salazar was struck by Brian McCann's foul liner while standing in the dugout during a spring training game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
McCann took himself out of the game moments after the accident before going to the hospital to be with Salazar and his family.
"Yesterday was a tragic day," McCann told reporters at Braves camp last Thursday. "It's just a helpless, sick feeling."
Salazar was struck while standing on the top step of the first-base dugout.
Chipper Jones was on first base when the accident occurred. He said Salazar was leaning against a dugout railing and toppled backward, hitting his head on the concrete floor.
"There were two things," Jones said. "First he got hit, then he fell backward and hit his head on the floor of the dugout. It was bad enough when he got hit but worse when he hit the floor."
Salazar played in the major leagues from 1980 to 1992 for the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox. He mostly played third base, was a career .261 hitter with 94 home runs and played in the 1984 World Series for the Padres.
He was the Double-A hitting coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers the past three seasons.
