GoHeels Exclusive: Moran returns to Houston Astros after freak injury

By Pat James, GoHeels.com

Colin Moran's memory of the Houston Astros' July 22 game at Camden Yards in Baltimore remains spotty.

He remembers fouling a pitch off his face. He recalls being carted off the field. And in addition to the subsequent trip to a nearby hospital, Moran says he can recollect the feeling of dread that crept over him as he pondered the potential long-term effects of his freak injury.

"I was nervous I wasn't going to be able to see again, just because it was so close to the eye," said Moran, who played third base at North Carolina from 2011-13. "Obviously, you're going to kind of over-panic in the moment."

Doctors ultimately diagnosed Moran with a concussion and facial fractures. The Astros placed him on the disabled list July 23, and he underwent surgery to repair those fractures July 31.

Moran's recovery steadily progressed over the next few weeks. And on Monday, 65 days removed from his injury, Moran played in a Major League game, going 0-for-1 at the plate and playing three innings at third base in Houston's 11-2 win over the Texas Rangers.

"The first three weeks or something after there was definitely doubt that I wouldn't be able to (return to the Astros this season)," Moran said. "There wasn't really a set timetable just because it was dependent upon how I recovered and how quickly all of the inflammation and stuff from the surgery went away.

"Thankfully it went quick enough to where I could get back."

At the time of his injury, Moran, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins, was in the midst of a career season.

Moran said he made some swing changes during the offseason. And those modifications proved fruitful, as he batted .308 with 15 doubles, 18 home runs and 63 RBIs in 79 games with the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies.

The Astros recalled Moran on July 18. He hit his first career Major League home run on July 21, only to sustain his injury the following day.

Moran's injury not only derailed his breakout season, but it also prevented him from helping Houston clinch the American League West, the club's first division title since winning the National League Central in 2001.

"It was really difficult to just be out of the game for a month or so," Moran said. "But playing with this team is a whole lot of fun, and that was definitely something that was motivating to try to get back this year to be around these guys and be a part of it."

A couple of weeks after his surgery, Moran started taking batting practice at the Astros' spring training facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. He then began a rehab assignment with the Class A Quad Cities River Bandits on Aug. 31.

Despite his injury, Moran said he made a fairly seamless transition to facing live pitching again.

"It wasn't bad, just because it was kind of a freak thing," he said. "Not really something you think about happening. It was a little easier than maybe getting hit in the face by a pitch."

Moran played in 12 games with Quad Cities. He batted .349 (15-for-43) with four doubles and six RBIs, helping the team capture the Midwest League championship.

Toward the end of his stint with the River Bandits, Moran said he and his fiancee learned he'd be called up to Houston for the end of the season. The club activated him from the disabled list on Sept. 17, officially completing his rehab.

Moran said he's watched the video of his injury. And over the past two months, he's become even more grateful to have overcome it and continue playing.

"You're definitely appreciative of it more when it gets taken away from you," Moran said. "You just try to appreciate it any time you get out there on the field."

GoHeels Exclusive: Moran returns to Houston Astros after freak injury

Related Videos