"Ubaldo Jimenez is friend of Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio, who was hit in the head by a line drive Friday night and underwent a five-hour operation Saturday morning to stabilize a fractured neck vertebra.

Washington's Ian Desmond was the batter who struck Nicasio.

"One of the clubhouse guys sent me a text message saying 'did you see what happened to Nicasio,'" said Jimenez. "Then I saw the video. It was bad.

"He got called up about two months ago. We used to go everywhere together. He's a good guy."

The Indians acquired Jimenez from the Rockies on July 31 for four players, including No.1 picks Alex White and Drew Pomeranz.

"The same scout who signed me, Orlando Hernandez, signed Nicasio," said Jimenez. "The scout called me Saturday. He was at the Nicasio's parents house." "