White Sox pitcher Farquhar progressing well after surgery for brain aneurysm
In dire need of good news, the Chicago White Sox got some on multiple fronts Monday.
The Sox's offense finally got untracked against the Seattle Mariners at Guaranteed Rate Field after being limited to 2 total runs while being swept by the Houston Astros over the weekend.
In the minors, top Class AA Birmingham outfield prospect Eloy Jimenez showed he's finally healthy with 2 home runs against Pensacola.
The best news was from off the field, and it concerned fallen relief pitcher Danny Farquhar.
Recovering at Rush University Medical Center after suffering a brain hemorrhage and ruptured aneurysm during Friday night's game against the Astros, Farquhar's medical team reported the relief pitcher is progressing well following a successful surgery Saturday to address the aneurysm.
Farquhar has use of his extremities, is responding appropriately to questions and commands and is speaking to doctors and his family.
“We're all encouraged by the news, as is everyone here and all the fans out there wondering, too,” White Sox reliever Nate Jones said. “We're all encouraged by it, but we also know that he's got a long way to go. But this news is definitely positive and uplifting.”
Farquhar remains in critical, but neurologically stable, condition in the ICU unit at Rush. His wife, Lexie, and family members are present at the hospital as he continues to receive treatment and close monitoring by a neurosurgical team.
“Over the last 24 hours, there's been a lot of good news,” Sox starting pitcher James Shields said. “Obviously, he's not out of the water yet, but I think the good news is definitely needed for him and his family.”
A veteran of seven major-league seasons with the White Sox, Rays, Mariners and Blue Jays, Farquhar always was in a battle to keep his job, but his personality always indicated otherwise.
In the early days of spring training this year, Farquhar would stroll past reporters in the Sox's clubhouse saying: “OK, I'm ready to be interviewed. Meet me over at my locker.”
It was always funny.
His sense of humor and knowledge made Farquhar a clubhouse favorite in all four of his major-league stops.
“We've given him a few nicknames like Google and Statcast because he's all over that stuff,” Jones said. “That's the good nature of Danny, man. He's always a delight in the room and has something to say.
“We sure do miss him, that's for sure.”
Farquhar pitched for the Mariners from 2013-15 and had 16 saves his first year. With Seattle opening a three-game series against the Sox on Monday night, his old No. 40 jersey was hanging in the Mariners' dugout.
Former teammates Robinson Cano, Felix Hernandez, Kyle Seager and Mike Zunino, who are all still with Seattle, came up with the idea.
“A few of our players who played with him thought it would be the right thing to do, respectful,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “I certainly agree with it. Anytime anybody goes down in the baseball family, and certainly when it's a guy who has played in your organization before, it's the right thing to do.
“Our guys speak very, very highly of Danny. They talk about the personality and the energy and the type of teammate he was. Certainly, we feel bad for him. The word I got is he's improving, and I know our guys are happy that's moving in the right direction.”