Rays minor league pitcher hit in head by line drive moved out of intensive care unit

Double-A pitcher hit by liner moved out of ICU

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Tampa Bay Rays minor league pitcher hit in the head by a line drive this week has been moved out of the intensive care unit.

Darin Downs of Double-A Montgomery was in his own room Wednesday at a hospital in Birmingham, Ala.

The Rays said Downs’ condition had improved, and that his family and fiance visited him.

Downs was listed in serious but stable condition Tuesday, a day after he was struck by a liner off the bat of Birmingham’s Christian Marrero. The ball deflected on the fly into the dugout.

Downs was making his second start for the Biscuits. He was originally picked by the Chicago Cubs in the fifth round of the 2003 draft.