OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Pitcher Brandon McCarthy is ready for a normal offseason after being medically cleared this week to resume his regular routine, less than three months after being struck in the head by a line drive and undergoing emergency brain surgery.
McCarthy, a free agent right-hander who was Oakland’s opening-day starter, spent Monday and Tuesday undergoing extensive evaluations by renowned concussion expert, Dr. Michael Collins, at the University of Pittsburgh. He returned to his Dallas-area home Wednesday and was cleared by Collins to begin working out.
McCarthy took a line drive to the right side of his head off the bat of the Angels’ Erick Aybar on Sept. 5.
He plans to begin playing catch next month, then throw bullpens starting in January if all continues to go well.
