Red Sox Prospect Taking Optimistic Tone After Brain Surgery

Three months ago Boston Red Sox top prospect Ryan Westmoreland underwent brain surgery to repair a cavernous malformation. Yesterday, the 20-year-old addressed the media for the first time since undergoing the procedure, expressing optimism that he might one day return to the diamond.↵↵While there’s still more progress that needs to be made before that can happen, Westmoreland is keeping a positive mindset as he continues with the extensive therapy needed to recover. Though he’s exceeded benchmarks in the process so far, doctors are neglecting to create a timetable of when he might be able to return to baseball. ↵

↵↵⇥“That’s always the mindset is I’m going to get back on the field and play again,” Westmoreland said. “And that’s the ultimate goal. You know every day, that doesn’t change and it never will. But doing things like going to see Portland play or Pawtucket play or the big league team play, it just gives you that extra motivation you need to want to get to that point.”↵⇥↵⇥“I feel a lot better,” he said. “If you asked me three months ago, the progress has been amazing. I heard from a bunch of doctors and the progress has been remarkable. I’m just excited to keep it going.”↵⇥

↵↵↵The Red Sox organization has a crowded recent history of coping with players with serious conditions, most notoriously Jon Lester’s struggles with cancer a few years back. First-base prospect Anthony Rizzo was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2008, though he was declared cancer-free after treatment later in the year. ↵

↵↵General manager Theo Epstein has praised Westmoreland’s character through the struggles, saying the organization knew they were getting a good kid, as they discovered through the signing process and meeting him and his family. The ideal situation would be for that immense character to be rewarded with another chance to compete. Short of that, a positive recovery will serve as a welcome consolation.↵

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