It has been 16 years since former Chicago Cubs outfielder Tyler Colvin suffered a season-ending injury on September 19, 2010, during the Chicago Cubs vs Florida Marlins game.
The former professional baseball player suffered a scary, high-profile chest injury when a shard from a shattered bat struck his upper-left chest and punctured his lung.
The injury forced Colvin to miss the remainder of the 2010 season. Back then, it was described as a scary but he was reported to be in stable condition.
Tyler did return after recovering, but he never got back to sustained and consistent major-league form. That traumatic pneumothorax slowed his career significantly.
Colvin bounced between teams. He would sign short minor-league deals but often got released and became a frequent free agent.
Tyler Colvin Had An Air Tube Inserted Into His Chest To Prevent Lung Collapse
Former Cubs outfielder Colvin was running down from the third base when his teammate Welington Castillo shattered his bat while hitting a double down the third base line.
It was #OTD in 2010 that former Cubs Tyler Colvin suffered a freak injury. Tyler stood at third base in the top of the second inning when a pitch broke Welington Castillo’s bat. The sharp end of the bat spun down the third-base line before hitting Tyler in the chest and falling… pic.twitter.com/CpasXd7kdX
— Crawly's Cubs Kingdom (@crawlyscubs) September 19, 2025
One of the shards pierced Colvin’s chest and punctured his left lung. Medical staff treated him on-site, and he was immediately taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
As per the September 2010 report of The Pam Beach Post, an air tube was inserted into Tyler’s chest to prevent his lungs from collapsing.
A Cubs spokesman said that Colvin was in stable condition at the hospital and remained there for a few days for observation.
The former baseball player had a small external cut that was sutured, but the main concern was inside his chest. So doctors monitored him carefully with X-rays.
The Florida Marlins catcher, Mike Rivera, described Colvin’s wound as “Like when a person gets stabbed.” He added that it was scary to witness that part of the bat flying and hitting him right in the chest, right next to the heart.
Castillo, who used a maple bat, didn’t see the accident. He said, “I feel very bad even though it wasn’t my fault.”
Colvin also didn’t realize that he was struck and continued toward the plate, scored the run, and headed toward the dugout.
ESPN reported that Maple bats, which had become popular in those years, were more likely to shatter than ash bats.
Furthermore, the Chicago Cubs’ then-manager Mike Quade said, “These bats,I am amazed it doesn’t happen more.”
“We have seen guys get hit with pieces, but to actually get stabbed with one, I just don’t ever remember seeing it,” the manager added.
Colvin went 0-for-1 with a walk and an RBI in the Cubs’ 13–3 win but missed the rest of the season. In his rookie year, he hit .254 with 20 home runs and 56 RBIs.
Tyler Colvin Recovered From The Injury And Returned To The Field
After recovering, Colvin was traded to the Colorado Rockies in December 2011. He had a strong 2012 season, hitting 18 home runs, including two in a single game against Stephen Strasburg.
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However, he was removed from the Rockies’ roster in 2013 and became a free agent. In 2014, a back issue canceled a deal with the Orioles, so he signed a minor-league contract with the Giants.
The former Colorado Rockies player had a brief stint in MLB, hitting .223, and became a free agent again.
Colvin then signed minor-league deals with the Marlins and White Sox in 2015 but was released or opted for free agency.
He played in independent baseball with the Long Island Ducks in 2016 and signed with the Dodgers in 2018. He appeared briefly in Double-A before being released.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Tyler Colvin grew up in North Augusta, South Carolina.
- His grandfather, Jerry Colvin (known as Pap), coached him in Little League and played catch with him.
- Colving met his wife, Molly, while attending Clemson University.
