Danny Farquhar on recovery from ruptured aneurysm: 'I had a few doctors call me a miracle'

Tom Schad | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Danny Farquhar fights for his life after suffering brain aneurysm SportsPulse: Chicago White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar suffered a brain aneurysm on April 20.

In his first extensive comments since a ruptured brain aneurysm left him fighting for his life, Chicago White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar told ABC News that he's thankful to be alive and looking forward to returning to baseball.

In an interview with Good Morning America that aired Friday, less than 12 hours before Farquhar was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Guaranteed Rate Field, he said he doesn't remember any part of the April 20 ordeal, when he complained of head pain and collapsed in the dugout. But he said the injury has given him a fresh perspective.

"I had a few doctors call me a miracle," Farquhar told ABC News, "and (tell me) how lucky I am to be as functional as I am."

Inside White Sox pitcher Danny Farquhar's miraculous recovery after suffering a brain hemorrhage during a game. @paulafaris has his story. https://t.co/OssKZEI9U1 pic.twitter.com/knaFXckKA9 — Good Morning America (@GMA) June 1, 2018

The White Sox pitcher also said he considers himself fortunate that he collapsed after pitching in a game, where he was surrounded by trainers and medical staff. Farquhar has thought back to a time a few days before his aneurysm ruptured, when he was stuck in a Minnesota hotel room by himself due to snow.

"I was just thinking, 'Man, (what) if this would have happened when I'm in a hotel room by myself?'" he said.

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Farquhar, 31, said he has been "completely" cleared by doctors but is not close to returning to professional baseball. He said that he has worked out about eight times since leaving the hospital but has to carefully monitor his stress levels and blood pressure. He has a scar across the left side of his face and will also have to deal with memory loss, his wife Lexie said.

Farquhar told the news outlet that he isn't sure when he'll return to professional baseball, but that an MLB return remains his goal. In the meantime, he's happy to focus on Friday night's first pitch.

"It's going to be a lobbed four-seam fastball," he said. "I want to be somewhere close to the mitt."

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.