D-backs' Evan Marshall takes the mound in bullpen session
Pitcher Evan Marshall took the mound Tuesday at Salt River Fields as the Arizona Diamondbacks held their first bullpen sessions prior to spring training.
Marshall hasn't pitched in a game since a live drive fractured his skull while pitching in a game for Triple-A Reno in August. The frightening injury necessitated surgery to remove pressure on his brain and was followed by months of mental and physical rehab.
"I've been waiting a long time to get back on the mound," Marshall told MLB.com after Tuesday's session. "(The rehab) has been a long process, and I feel I'm at the point now where I can focus on baseball, and less on the battle coming back."
Marshall, 25, had a 2.74 ERA as a valuable setup man for the D-backs in 2014 but struggled last season and was demoted to the minors after compiling a 6.08 ERA in 13 appearances.
He was injured while pitching for Reno in a game in El Paso, Texas, and made an emotional return to Chase Field three weeks later to visit his teammates.
