ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Texas Rangers catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia's eyesight improved overnight and he was in the lineup Saturday night against Chicago.
Saltalamacchia's vision was impaired in both eyes for two days and he was unavailable Friday night against the White Sox. Taylor Teagarden played the game, and the Rangers called up Max Ramirez from Triple-A Oklahoma as the reserve catcher.Saltalamacchia spent Friday in a darkened room, unable to tolerate any light. Saltalamacchia said he was told by a specialist that the irritation was probably caused by contact lens solution.
"It was some sort of chemical solution that was eating away at my cornea, causing me a lot of pain and causing me not to even open my eyes," Saltalamacchia said. "It was like if you had some dirt in both your eyes, kept blinking and then washed it out and your eyes were scratched. Try and sleep or try to open your eyes with that. So I was in my room with the lights off and it was still too bright."
Medication eased the condition and by Saturday morning, his vision had improved, although he was unable to wear contact lenses.
"It's not perfect, but it's comfortable where I can play," Saltalamacchia said. "It's tolerable. By tomorrow it'll be 100 percent. I can't wear my contacts but my eyes aren't that bad to really need contacts."
Saltalamacchia left Thursday's game against Oakland in the second inning when his vision became impaired.
