SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- No one was happier to throw their bullpen session Friday morning than D-backs right-hander Evan Marshall.
Marshall is returning from a nearly fatal incident on Aug. 4, when he was struck in the head with a line drive while pitching for Triple-A Reno in El Paso.
• Spring Training info
"I've been looking forward to this day for a while now," Marshall said when pitchers and catchers reported Wednesday.
Marshall is wearing a protective pad inside his hat. He will experiment with other protective wear that Major League Baseball is working on for this season to find something that works best for him.

After having been cleared by his own doctors, Marshall is still waiting for MLB to officially sign off on his return. Until it does, he cannot face hitters without a protective screen in front of him.