Patrick Copen delivers a pitch during a professional baseball game last season. Copen, a Parkersburg native, is a minor leaguer in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ system but is battling his way back after being struck in the face by a line drive during a game last season. (Photo Provided)

BELPRE — When Patrick Copen departs for Arizona Sunday for the start of his spring training, it’s a familiar destination.

But this year is unlike any other in Copen’s professional baseball career. The former Parkersburg Catholic High School/Marshall University product and seventh round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2023 MLB June Amateur Draft as a 6-foot-6 starting right-handed pitcher is returning to the game following a traumatic experience while pitching for Class A Great Lakes last August.

In the third inning of the Great Lakes Loons’ game against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Copen was struck in the face by a line drive. The liner struck Copen in the cheek/orbital bone area.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital. However, since there was no ophthalmologist on staff to perform surgery, Copen was transported to University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Nearly five months have passed. Even though Copen has no vision in his right eye, he is determined to continue his professional career.

Two weeks after the incident, he visited the clubhouse and took a moment to stand on the mound. And to look to his future.

“I just stood there to get a visual and see how it looked – if anything had changed,” Copen said. “I thought it would feel different, but at the same moment I knew I would keep playing baseball. That couldn’t be stopped.”

Copen has the backing of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, his immediate family and his girlfriend, Macy, who was in attendance on that particular evening on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at Dow Diamond in Midland, Mich.

“Even though I don’t have vision in my right eye, it crosses my mind how it could have been a lot worse,” Copen said. “I’m thankful how it turned out. My support system has been there to help me out. I wouldn’t be in this position at this time without that support.

“I’ve been in contact with a handful of other guys in the minor leagues, some who had a major league career and lost vision in an eye completely. They’ve given me optimism with their words and positive feedback – that it can be done.

“It’s going to be hard. There are definitely people who say it may be improbable, but it is not impossible by any means.”

* * *

Whether he was pitching for the Crusaders in high school or in Huntington at Marshall, the 22-year-old native of Parkersburg never met a baseball head-on like he did this past August.

“I’ve been hit in the leg or close to getting hit trying to catch a close one which might graze the shoulder but nothing close to the head,” Copen said. “Usually if I would get hit by a comebacker, I would usually get mad because I didn’t catch it.”

The first order of business when Copen arrives in Arizona will be a series of drills to test whether he is gun-shy in any way on balls hit his direction.

“The coaches are doing everything they can — they told me I would go through special training and special drills to make sure I’m not.”

Following his release from the hospital the day after the initial surgery, which occurred at 3 a.m. the morning after the game, Copen still had several weeks of doctor visits to attend to in Michigan.

“Obviously, doctors told me what I went through was pretty traumatic,” Copen said. “Turns out the retina was detached and well as the cataract in my eye. So the plan of action was to fix the retina detachment.

“They had to wait for the swelling in my eye to go down before they would operate. When it did, the doctor said the detachment was too severe and they could not operate. My girlfriend and I came home for three days then went to UCLA for a second opinion. They said the same thing, that I wouldn’t have surgery because the detachment was just kind of too far gone.”

* * *

If the Dodger family wanted to cut their losses and claim they had damaged goods, these are the moments where they could take a long look at Copen and discuss his future in the organization. That was furthest from the truth.

Instead, the organization was proactive — providing financial assistance, along with the training and mental support for Copen’s road to recovery.

One phone call, in particular, from one of his coaches resonates with Copen.

“All my teammates and coaches were very optimistic,” Copen said. “I received a call from one the of the staff members for the Dodgers. He said even if you don’t have vision in the right eye you will continue to play baseball for the Dodgers. There is no doubt you will be pitching next year.

“I’ve taken those words and run with it.”

Whether it was being a 5-year old all over again and learning how to simply catch the ball to throwing off a mound in Arizona for a couple of weeks in November for coaches in the Dodger system, Copen has that fire burning yet again.

His second season as a professional baseball player was trending upward before the accident. He began the season at Class A Rancho Cucamonga. In 54 1/2 innings, he went 5-2 with a 3.15 ERA in 13 games (11 starts).

In eight starts with the Class high-A Loons, Copen went 3-2 with a 4.21 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 27 walks in 36 1/2 innings. Opponents were hitting .248 against him. His combined numbers over two seasons included 97 strikeouts over 95 innings while allowing only 76 hits.

“In November, the coaches wanted to see where I was at physically, and honestly they thought I was farther along than the ideal,” Copen said. “It was a good plan having me go out there every few weeks. They told me I didn’t have to continue because I was progressing better than they thought.

“Honestly, I haven’t really thought where I will be (when spring training breaks). I don’t want to get ahead of myself. As far as I am concerned I am the same guy I was at the beginning of last year. I consider myself a better pitcher than I was. I just want to be treated as if nothing happened.”

* * *

Something did happen. Imagine the pain Copen suffered as he fell to all fours after the liner struck his face. On video replay, his infielders can be seen sprinting to him. The delay lasted for 21 minutes. The entire time, Copen was conscious.

“I remember the liner hitting me – let me tell you, it hurt really bad,” Copen said. “I immediately went to the ground. The immediate pain went away after the first three to five minutes.

“I pulled my hand away and saw all the blood. I had blood running down my throat – that was the most uncomfortable part for a long time. My eye was super swollen. It was swollen shut immediately. My mouth — my teeth were crooked in the right part of my mouth. I knew I had broken bones (in my face), but didn’t know about my eye until after surgery.”

“The athletic trainer did a good job and immediately carted me off the field. I made sure to stay calm as the professionals tell you to do. I wasn’t in a whole lot of pain”

Copen’s girlfriend was in the stands and contacted his family. Back in Belpre, the Copens had been watching the game. Not too long after, the parents left for the six-hour drive for Michigan.

Macy McElhaney has been by Copen’s side since they met while both attended Marshall University.

“It means so much having Macy by my side,” Copen said. “Through the process, she has been huge. I have these medicated eye drops. Strangely enough, I can’t put them in. She does that for me. She is a positive reinforcement and there for mental support. Even if it’s just playing catch. She’s been so much help.”

Copen also gave major kudos to his immediate family. Especially to his mother and father, who arrived in Michigan just after his initial surgery the morning after the game.

“Ever since little league, they have been my biggest supporters,” Copen said. “I didn’t think they were going to be able to visit me in Michigan, and they did. That meant a lot to know they would do anything for me.

“I can’t thank them enough for the things they have done.”

* * *

Otherwise, the approaching baseball season returns with anticipation. Copen doesn’t have to worry about the snow he’s seen on the ground at his family’s home in Belpre for the past couple of weeks. Insead, it’s desert and sunshine. Brushing up on his Spanish and reuniting with teammates.

He lost sight in one eye, but gained a further appreciation for the baseball talents God has bestowed upon him.

“From my standpoint, there is a higher power having me push on and push forward,” Copen said. “He allowed me to retain the things that make me such a good baseball player and the strength to continue on this journey to reach my goal.”

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com