Juan Nicasio
Encyclopedia
Juan Nicasio is a Major League Baseball
pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
.
He began his professional career in 2006, pitching for the DSL Rockies
and going 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in eight games (five starts). With the Casper Rockies
in 2007, Nicasio went 0-3 with a 4.36 ERA in 13 games (eight starts). In 2008, he pitched for the Tri-City Dust Devils
and went 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts. With the Asheville Tourists
in 2009, Nicasio went 9-3 with a 2.41 ERA in 18 starts, striking out 115 batters in 112 innings of work.
He began the 2010 season with the Modesto Nuts
.
On May 28, 2011, Nicasio was recalled from Double-A Tulsa
to take Jorge de la Rosa's rotation spot. Bruce Billings
was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs
to make room. He made his debut that day, facing the St. Louis Cardinals
, pitching 7 innings while giving up one unearned run. The Rockies won 15 to 4, giving Nicasio his first major league win. His first major league strikeout was of Jaime García
. In total, Nicasio gave up 6 hits, walked 2 and struck out 2.
On August 5, 2011, in a game against the Washington Nationals
, Nicasio was struck in the right side of his head by a line drive
off the bat of Ian Desmond
. The impact broke his neck. He underwent surgery early the next morning to stabilize his C1 vertebra
. He was placed in a cervical collar
and heavily sedated, but had control and movement in all extremities as of late August 6. Positive news of his progress has continued to arrive. Nicasio is able to control all of his extremities and speak coherently. In addition, he is able to recall what had happened to him. As of August 8, 2011 he was able to walk around the hospital twice without assistance. And as of September 20 the neck brace has been removed. He is supposed to be able to pitch in spring training, and also next season.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
He began his professional career in 2006, pitching for the DSL Rockies
DSL Rockies
The DSL Rockies are a rookie league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies based in the Dominican Republic. They play in the Dominican Summer League. They have been in existence since 1997....
and going 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA in eight games (five starts). With the Casper Rockies
Casper Rockies
The Grand Junction Rockies are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League based in Grand Junction, Colorado, United States, where they play at Suplizio Field...
in 2007, Nicasio went 0-3 with a 4.36 ERA in 13 games (eight starts). In 2008, he pitched for the Tri-City Dust Devils
Tri-City Dust Devils
The Tri-City Dust Devils are a minor league baseball team in Pasco, Washington, United States. The Dust Devils are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since their inception in 2001. The Devils play home games at Gesa...
and went 2-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 12 starts. With the Asheville Tourists
Asheville Tourists
The Asheville Tourists are a minor league baseball team based in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. They play in the Class A South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since 1994....
in 2009, Nicasio went 9-3 with a 2.41 ERA in 18 starts, striking out 115 batters in 112 innings of work.
He began the 2010 season with the Modesto Nuts
Modesto Nuts
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Colorado Rockies. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans...
.
On May 28, 2011, Nicasio was recalled from Double-A Tulsa
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
to take Jorge de la Rosa's rotation spot. Bruce Billings
Bruce Billings
Bruce Billings is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.-Early life and college:Billings is the son of Bruce and Emily. Billings attended Samuel F. B...
was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
to make room. He made his debut that day, facing the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, pitching 7 innings while giving up one unearned run. The Rockies won 15 to 4, giving Nicasio his first major league win. His first major league strikeout was of Jaime García
Jaime Garcia (baseball)
Jaime Omar García is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals.-Early life:Jaime García was born on July 8, 1986 in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico as the second of three children to civil engineer Jaime García, Sr. and Gloria Rodríguez Flores. García was raised between the border of...
. In total, Nicasio gave up 6 hits, walked 2 and struck out 2.
On August 5, 2011, in a game against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, Nicasio was struck in the right side of his head by a line drive
Line drive
In baseball, a line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on a level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball can be subjective....
off the bat of Ian Desmond
Ian Desmond
Ian M. Desmond is a shortstop for the Washington Nationals . He was selected by the Montreal Expos in the third round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft and signed on June 16....
. The impact broke his neck. He underwent surgery early the next morning to stabilize his C1 vertebra
Cervical vertebrae
In vertebrates, cervical vertebrae are those vertebrae immediately inferior to the skull.Thoracic vertebrae in all mammalian species are defined as those vertebrae that also carry a pair of ribs, and lie caudal to the cervical vertebrae. Further caudally follow the lumbar vertebrae, which also...
. He was placed in a cervical collar
Cervical collar
A cervical collar is an orthopedic medical device used to support a patient's neck and head. It is also used by emergency personnel for victims of traumatic head or neck injuries, and can be used to treat chronic medical conditions....
and heavily sedated, but had control and movement in all extremities as of late August 6. Positive news of his progress has continued to arrive. Nicasio is able to control all of his extremities and speak coherently. In addition, he is able to recall what had happened to him. As of August 8, 2011 he was able to walk around the hospital twice without assistance. And as of September 20 the neck brace has been removed. He is supposed to be able to pitch in spring training, and also next season.