Oakland, CA

Oakland Athletics' starter Brandon McCarthy has been cleared to resume playing baseball two months after he was hit in the head by a line drive.

Many thought that McCarthy's baseball career was over after he underwent emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain because of internal bleeding.

However, doctors have cleared McCarthy to resume baseball activities and expected to participate in spring training.

"That's unbelievable," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "You're just hoping he survives and can live a normal life; at one point, he was having trouble seeing out of one of his eyes-and now, so soon, he's been cleared. Boy, there is sure some fight in him. He's tough."

The 29-year-old McCarthy was injured in a game against the Angels, when a line drive off the bat of Erick Aybar struck him in the head.

After his surgery, he was under the care of Dr. Michael Collins, the executive director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Sports Medicine Concussion Program.

Collins monitored McCarthy's progress through series of tests, and when McCarthy's test matched a baseline test he took last May, Collins gave him the clearance to play baseball again.

"Dr. Collins was happy with everything," McCarthy told The Chronicle. "It's not at all what he expected to see, and they don't just go on basic tests; it's not like you can lie your way through it. It's incredibly comprehensive and specialized."

McCarthy went 8-6 in 18 starts for the A's last season with a career-low 3.24 ERA. His contract with the A's has expired but he hopes to re-sign with the club.

Copyright © 2012 AHN - All Rights Reserved