A St. Louis Cardinals pitcher is recovering after being hit in the head with a line drive

The injury was so severe he needed brain surgery.

A pitcher on the St. Louis Cardinals farm system is steadily improving after he took a brutal line drive off his head.

Daniel Poncedeleon, a 25-year-old starting pitcher for the Cardinals AAA affiliate in Memphis, has been in the hospital in intensive care ever since he was hit and suffered an injury so severe he needed surgery to relieve swelling on his brain.

When he was hit during the game, Poncedeleon immediately dropped to the ground, and his catcher immediately motioned for help. Medics came on to the field and had to use a stretcher to take him off.

Poncedeleon was struck during a game in Des Mones, Iowa, and has been hospitalized there. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported that of his recovery goes well, he may be able to go home to Florida to continue his rehabilitation on a week or two.