BOSTON — Kevin Olsen understands the Marlins are back in Boston for the first time since 2003. But even six years later, the former Marlins pitcher still isn't ready to reflect on what happened to him the last time Florida played at Fenway Park.
"I don't even talk about it anymore," he said from his home in Southern California. "People just don't bring it up and I don't think about it. I just want to let it go."
On June 27, 2003, the Marlins were getting pummeled 20-4 when Olsen entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Johnny Damon singled to right.
Todd Walker followed and scorched a 1-2 fastball up the middle, right toward the mound.
As Olsen followed through on his delivery, the ball struck him in the back of the head behind his right ear. The ball bounced toward Florida's third-base dugout and Olsen fell and lay motionless on the mound for nine minutes.
Walker wound up with a double, but players and trainers from both teams rushed to the mound. Some players in both dugouts sat silently, appearing to pray.
"It was one of those nightmarish things that you can't believe you are seeing," Marlins broadcaster Tommy Hutton said.
On the Red Sox telecast, Jerry Remy told listeners he'd never heard usually raucous Fenway Park as quiet as it was when players huddled over Olsen.
"When I hit the ground my thought was to stay awake, not shut my eyes," Olsen later said, recalling what he was telling himself. "I don't remember seeing (the ball) but I saw the film and I must have because I reacted at the very end."
Olsen left the field on a stretcher and was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, a few blocks from Fenway Park. The Marlins wound up losing 25-8 and Olsen was diagnosed with a concussion. He received seven stitches to close a gash behind his ear.
"We were getting waxed early so we were just trying to get through the game then something like that happens to Kevin," said Marlins first-base coach Andy Fox, who was a bench player that day.
Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria accompanied Olsen to the hospital and delayed an operation on Olsen's ear until a plastic surgeon arrived.
Olsen was held overnight for observation and returned to the team hotel the next day, his head wrapped in bandages.
Walker called the Marlins' clubhouse on the final game of the series and spoke with Olsen to express his remorse. Olsen returned home with the Marlins on the team flight.
He suffered from vertigo for three months as he struggled to regain his balance. He returned to the Marlins in September and made what turned out to be his final three major league appearances.
He struck out four batters in his final game with the Marlins on Sept. 27, the day after the Marlins clinched the wild card.
Olsen, who received a 2003 World Series ring and a share of the Series money, pitched for Class AAA Albuquerque in 2004, going 3-3 with 4.34 ERA in 10 games, before the Marlins released him.
He tried to catch on with the Pirates but wound up pitching the 2006 season in the Independent League. He made two appearances for the Oakland's Class AAA Sacramento River Cats before retiring after the 2007 season at the age of 30.
Olsen said his retirement was related to arm injuries, not his concussion.
"It was just the arm issues," he said.
As for the line drive that struck him in the head, Olsen has watched the video just once. "I think just watching it one time was enough," he told the Albuquerque Tribune in 2004.
These days, Olsen, 32, doesn't follow the Marlins and doesn't stay in touch with many former teammates. He said he keeps busy by offering private baseball lessons to kids in Temecula, Calif., and spending time with his wife, a teacher whom he married 2 1/2 years ago.
"It's going well," he said.
Olsen was polite and cordial in a brief interview, but also firm with his intent to avoid re-living his scary injury.
"I know it's the first time the Marlins are back in Boston," he said, "but I just don't want to talk about it."
Joe Capozzi writes for The Palm Beach Post. E-mail: joe(underscore)capozzi(at)pbpost.com.