Prospect Del Orbe to have surgery for skull fractures

Marlins pitching prospect Ramon Del Orbe, who sustained two skull fractures after being struck by a line drive on Tuesday, is scheduled to undergo surgery on Thursday afternoon.

Initially, doctors were planning to wait to see how the 21-year-old responded. But Del Orbe has a concussion and is dealing with bleeding in his brain, so the procedure was recommended.

"The Marlins family is deeply concerned for Ramon Del Orbe and the injuries sustained while pitching [Tuesday] for the [Class A] Greensboro Grasshoppers," Marlins vice president of player development Marty Scott said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Ramon and his family during this time."

Bobby Ramos, the organization's Minor League Latin Coordinator, is with Del Orbe. The pitcher's family in the Dominican Republic is aware of his condition and is receiving updates.

The injury occurred in the sixth inning on Tuesday, when Del Orbe was hit by a liner off the bat of West Virginia's Josh Bell in Charleston, W.Va. The pitcher immediately collapsed to the ground, but he did not lose consciousness.

A 5-foot-11, 190-pounder, Del Orbe signed with the Marlins as a non-drafted free agent in 2008. He is 5-8 with a 4.75 ERA in 23 starts, and will not pitch again this season.