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Vogelsong eyeing return to Pirates, still critical of Lyles

Justin Berl / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Two months ago, Ryan Vogelsong thought it was all over. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher was struck in the face by a fastball from Colorado Rockies right-hander Jordan Lyles on May 23 on an 0-2 count with the bases loaded. There was one out in the second inning, and the Pirates led, 1-0.

For someone whose career has been filled with trials over 19 seasons – from demotions and releases, to a trip to Japan, to a seemingly miraculous comeback to the All-Star Game in 2011 – Vogelsong told his wife Nicole he couldn't believe that's how it was going to end.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the hurler believed at that moment that he may have lost his eye. Doctors told him his eye was intact, but how much vision he'd have or its quality was up in the air. After swelling subsided 10 days later, he underwent surgery to repair multiple facial fractures, and he's on track to return to the majors in the next eight days – when his minor-league rehab assignment expires.

Regaining nearly 20-20 vision over the course of the scary trial, the veteran told Rosenthal he is "very lucky, fortunate, and blessed to be able to see at all," though it doesn't damper his critique for the man who delivered the 92-mph pitch that made contact with Vogelsong's face.

Lyles left Vogelsong a voicemail on Saturday, only after a series of critical comments were relayed to him by FOX Sports through a Rockies representative.

"I had one at-bat on the season. I'm a pretty easy out at this point in time. The guy is throwing 95-mph sinkers," Vogelsong said. "I could think of about three or four different places he could have gone to strike me out or get me out without throwing me up-and-in."

Vogelsong found it troubling that Lyles did that to him in the late stages of his career, noting that his time left in the game is relatively short. Lyles, 25, countered on Sunday, noting he would never intentionally throw at someone's head, "especially another pitcher."

For Vogelsong, the issue goes beyond the act. Three other members of the Rockies sent texts to him after the unfortunate beaning, two of whom did not have Vogelsong's contact information. None of the three were Lyles.

"I know if I was the guy pitching on the mound and drilled someone in the face ... it could have ended my career. It could have blinded me. I could have never been able to be see out of my left eye again," Vogelsong said. "Even worse, it actually could have killed me, if it would have hit me in a little different spot. I think that deserves a text message, or a phone call, or something."

Lyles told FOX he tried to reach out through the Rockies trainers, calling twice to ask about Vogelsong, but the pitcher never got the message.

"Obviously, I hope there is no next time," Lyles said. "But after reading his comments, I would do things differently. I just didn't know how to go about it."

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