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Phillies Prospect Has Right Eye Removed Following Freak Training Accident

MIAMI (CBSNewYork) -- A Philadelphia Phillies prospect has lost his right eye following a freak training accident.

Matt Imhof, a 22-year-old minor league pitcher drafted in the second round in 2014, had his eye removed and replaced with a prosthetic one Tuesday at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami.

In an Instagram post, Imhof said doctors told him that his eye was "crushed like a grape" when a large piece of metal hit him in his face last Friday. According to Philly.com, Imhof was using a resistance band that was anchored to a wall when the mounted base broke off and struck the Phillies prospect.

Imhof had reconstructive surgery initially, but "nothing had changed," he said, so the best chance at a "normal life" was to have his right eye removed and to put in a prosthetic one.

Imhof said that he is recovering and doing well.

"This has been the hardest week of my life but I've had amazing support from my family and friends to help me get through it," he posted on Instagram.

He added: "I just wanted to write this message to let everyone know that even though I suffered some bad luck, I'm not dead. I'm gonna be alright, I'm gonna persevere, and I'm gonna succeed. It takes more than this to bring me down."

Imhof's agent told Philly.com that there are more procedures to come.

Over three minor league seasons, Imhof compiled a 13-10 record with a 3.69 ERA. It is not known yet if he will try to continue his baseball career.

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