After Losing His Right Eye In June, Former Phillies Prospect Matt Imhof Has Retired From Major League Baseball

ESPN (Entire article seen there) – Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect Matt Imhof sustained a traumatic injury to his right eye in a training accident in June. The 23-year-old details the moment his life changed and shares the plans he has for the future. It was my normal postgame routine to use exercise bands after I pitched. They were already hooked to the wall when I walked into the athletic training room, so I grabbed them and started my workout. Same thing, different day.

What was looking like a promising career in baseball, Pitcher Matt Imhof has decided to hang them up, 7 months after suffering a devastating eye injury during a band exercise back in June.

As many of you know on Friday June 25th I had an accident. A large price of metal hit me in the head/eye resulting in a fractured nose, 2 fractured orbital bones, and most significantly, the loss of vision in my right eye. I was immediately taken to the ER and then transferred to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the #1 eye hospital in the world. That night, the doctors informed me that the damage to my eye was extreme and essentially that my eye had been crushed like a grape. The doctors told me they were going to do everything possible to reconstruct it but in all likelihood I would never regain sight in my right eye. The first surgery was somewhat a success but overall nothing had changed, so after discussions with my family and my doctors, it was decided that the best chance I had to live a normal life was to have my right eye removed and have a prosthetic one put in. This decision was not an easy one to make but to me it seemed like the right one so on Tuesday afternoon I went forward with the surgery. I'm currently still in Miami recovering from surgery but I'm doing well. This has been the hardest week of my life but I've had amazing support from my family and friends to help me get through it. For those who have been wishing me well, your support has not gone unnoticed and I appreciate everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers. I had the best doctors in the world doing their best work on me and for that I am grateful as well. Although this injury has been tough it could have been much worse…I'm lucky to still have vision in my left eye…I'm lucky that i didn't have brain damage…and I'm lucky to be surrounded my the most loving and understanding people in the world. I just wanted to write this message to let everyone know that even though I suffered some bad luck, I'm not dead. I'm gonna be alright, I'm gonna persevere, and I'm gonna succeed. It takes more than this to bring me down. Again thanks to everyone for the support.

A photo posted by Matt Imhof (@matt_imhof48) on Jun 30, 2016 at 9:44am PDT

Matt wrote an excellent piece for ESPN detailing the “life-altering” injury, his struggles and ultimately why choosing to retire was the best decision for him going forward. You can read the entire piece HERE. It truly is heartbreaking what he has had to endure in his recovery, but after reading it sounds like he is finally content moving on from professional baseball. Matt has re-enrolled at Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo to finish up his business degree and will serve as a pitching coach for the baseball team as well. Matt is also a huge stoolie. Let’s show him some support.
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