June 1 will be a special day for Danny Farquhar, his family and, the White Sox organization. After suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in the dugout after the sixth inning on April 20, Farquhar underwent brain surgery and spent nearly three weeks at RUSH University Medical Center. He was released on May 7 to the relief of all of Major League Baseball.
#WhiteSox to honor pitcher Danny Farquhar on June 1: pic.twitter.com/zU71kPafYN
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 24, 2018
Farquhar has not been cleared for baseball activity from his medical team but he will take the mound on June 1 to throw out the first pitch. He will be joined by his wife Lexie and three children, as well as the medical team that delivered him back to health. Dr. Demtrius Lopes, Farquhar’s neurosurgeon, is optimistic Farquhar will pitch in the major leagues again.
“It just makes me smile,” James Sheilds said on Farquhar’s return to the stadium. “He’s just such a great dude. We are so happy everything is going smooth with him.”
Chicago White Sox Charities will also play a hand in Farquhar’s ceremonious return. CWSC will hold a fundraising effort at the June-1 game against Milwaukee and plans to donate all proceeds to the Joe Niekro Foundation, an organization committed to “supporting patients, families, research, treatment and awareness of brain aneurysms.” The White Sox are planning a Sox Split raffle, game auction and scoreboard messaging in an effort to raise money for the foundation.
Farquhar has been recovering at home since being released from RUSH Medical Center and occasionally posts uplifting messages on social media.
Farquhar was a dependable and beloved part of the White Sox bullpen before suffering this scary episode where he collapsed in front of his teammates. White Sox medical staff and EMTs could be seen rushing to his aid and their swift response saved valuable seconds in rushing Farquhar to treatment. He was pitching well for the Sox and closed a strong sixth inning on April 20 when he went down. Farquhar was limiting opposing hitters to a .210 batting average with 21 punch outs and six holds.
