DENVER -- A Rockies fan who suffered a fractured eye socket after being hit by a foul ball on Sunday is headed back to Coors Field just three days later for Wednesday night's game.
Andy Taylor is still recovering after trying to catch the pop fly on the first pitch of the 6th inning.
“I was in Section 147, Row 13," said Taylor. “It was just like out of Sandlot (the movie). You just see that ball and it's getting bigger and bigger. By the time I got my hands up, I just couldn't stop it. It came right in and smacked me in the face."
Popped in the right eye.
Fortunately, there was a paramedic sitting in the stands nearby named Randy.
"Randy - wherever you are, thank you," Taylor said.
Taylor had his glove in the car. His wife told him to bring it in, but he thought - "what are the odds I'll need it?"
"I just thought, 'I'll look like a big dork if I go out there wearing my baseball glove,'” Taylor said. “And, of course, she was right."
Ironically, his wife works for the Rockies part-time.
"After he got hit, I'm the one freaking out," said Courtney Taylor.
After about eight hours in the hospital that night, Andy was sent home. He has stitches and doctors say his eye should heal just fine. But, the fractured socket will require reconstructive surgery.
"The doctor yesterday was really happy with how far it's come since Sunday," Taylor said.
Doctors say there's no question – Andy’s sunglasses helped to soften the blow.
"Yeah, they were $10 at the flea market," Taylor said.
His sister has set-up a GoFundMe page to help with his medical expenses.
"Some people tell me that I need to come up with a better story,” Taylor said. “Better than I don't know how to catch a ball."
All things considered, he feels pretty lucky.
"It says right on the ticket that things can happen," Taylor said.
Taylor says he has no hard feelings about his injury. He says he knows the risks associated with attending Major League Baseball games.
The Rockies reached out to Taylor Wednesday and offered to host Taylor for the game against the San Francisco Giants.
“I might be wearing a catcher’s mask,” Taylor said.
