SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Colorado Rockies reliever John Axford's 2-year-old son is improving following a rattlesnake bite.

Jameson Axford remained hospitalized for an eighth straight day, but Axford said Wednesday his son was able to sleep through the night as he deals with pain. Doctors have saved his right foot, but there is fear one of his toes may need to be amputated.

"It's looking better," Axford said. "We're going by doctors' orders. They know more than we do. We're going to trust them to heal him the best way possible."

Axford said his son was bitten twice last week in the yard of the house his family is renting in Scottsdale for spring training. It happened the same day Axford made his last Cactus League appearance.

Jameson needed extensive, painful treatment because of the large amount of venom found.

The Rockies wished a speedy recovery to Axford's son on their Twitter account Wednesday:

Happy 32nd birthday to @JohnAxford! Continuing to send our best wishes for a full recovery to John's son, Jameson. pic.twitter.com/Cbqv3jGCGd — Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 1, 2015

Axford returned to the team Tuesday to play catch. He's set to pitch in Colorado's final exhibition game Saturday.

"If he meets the requirements before we break here -- pitching Saturday is one of them -- we don't see any reason why he couldn't break with us," manager Walt Weiss said.

Axford signed a one-year, $2.6 million free-agent deal with Colorado in the offseason after playing for Cleveland and Pittsburgh last season.

Axford saved an NL-high 46 games for Milwaukee in 2011.

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.