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 consecutive day, but John Axford said Wednesday that his son was able to sleep through the night as he deals with pain. Doctors have saved Jameson’s right foot, but there is fear one of his toes might 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 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.
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,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.
Axford signed a one-year, $2.6 million free-agent deal with Colorado in the offseason after playing for the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates last season. Axford saved a National League-high 46 games for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2011.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
