Skip to main content

We thought our son's baseball career could be over.

NTGson's first season at his school started very well...used as situational pitcher (lefty on lefty). He was effective enough that he was on his way to more than 25 appearances when his in-zone accuracy started to fade as did his velocity. Trainers ran him through therapy for shoulder tightness, then a dreaded 'shoulder impingement'. At 3/4 through the season he was no longer consistently effective and was not pitching. The therapy relieved pain and doctors cleared him to pitch (he passed all the rotational and strength tests administered) summer ball on the west coast.

The kid earned a place in the summer team's starting rotation against very good competition and continued to be effective, not overwhelming, but effective. We were able to listen to the ESPN streamed radio broadcasts of the games.  We were happy for him when he won his first game and when he threw 94 pitches over 7 innings and was relieved up 6-2 (nobody on base and 2-outs but team lost the ball game 7-6. That's a different story). But two days later both his Mom and I screamed at the radio when he stupidly took the mound when asked to close a game in the 8th inning. We know our kid and that was, in our minds, insufficient rest. The next day he reported, unasked, to us that the stiffness and pain of the Spring was back. The trainers there shut him down; we flew him back to Virginia for examination and MRI. Diagnosis: slight labrum tear beneath the biceps tendon attachment point. Possible (could be highly probable) career-ending injury if serious damage is present,  and an extensive rehab period of 8-9 months after 6-8 weeks of immobilization in a sling after surgery.

He, his Mom and I met with his coaches and the program's trainer to discuss the ramifications of the injury, the possibility of a medical redshirt, etc. and the preferred procedure for his surgery. Our experience with his coaches and the staff was not only reassuring but rewarding. We opted to follow their suggestions regarding the surgery: the orthopedic and the facility. All were affiliated with the school and close by and our research found them to be very highly-rated. The convenience to his trainers and not having to miss any more than a few classes made the decision easier.

Within 4 days from our meeting, his shoulder was scoped by an extremely experienced surgeon who reported that the tear was minor, there was no detachment from the bone and only a small flap of material was causing the stiffness and pain. That little flap was excised and the area smoothed. The prognosis is full and complete recovery, with 3 weeks of sling and 3-4 months of rehab.

The initial damage may well have happened during his high school career but was never so serious to prevent him from playing and pitching. He endured pain but was effective and his velocity ran up to 87 his senior year as it did early his first college year. All had thought that as a PO and under the program in place he'd pick up another 2-3 mph by the end of his first year. That didn't happen because of the impingement which is a precursor and warning of potential labrum difficulties.

The coaches and training staff have outlined his program for this winter in order to make him able to take the mound this Spring. If he is not at 100%, he will be redshirted.

We are thankful that God is good, the injury was minor, the surgeon skilled, his coaches and staff are overseeing his recovery. Those few days of not knowing what future was left for him in baseball were filled with anxiety, for him and for his Mom and me.

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Vs Western Carolina 17
Last edited by NotThatGuy
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

3and2Fastball posted:

Really happy for your son that he is going to be OK!!!  What a sense of relief you must feel.

Really concerned though that the coaches felt it OK to have him throw 94 pitches and then take the mound again 2 days later!

We are more upset with him....he knows the consequences of lack of rest....but caught up in the moment. Not his school coach...and his summer league team and league were a business: coaches want to win, keep the crowds of 2000+ coming in and sell those hot dogs and T-shirts. I know his school's head coach is not happy.

 

Last edited by NotThatGuy

Corn Jr has the same injury and it looks like it might be the end of the line for him.  He's a catcher playing in his forth year of Indy pro ball, a 2010 HS, 2014 college graduate he turned 25 in Aug.  Second to last game of the season he threw one of their fastest runners out early in the game.  Several innings later the same runner tried him again.  He popped up, threw and the ball hit just behind the mound and dribbled to 2nd base.  The trainer came out and looked at him but he stayed in and finished the inning.  He was replaced the next inning.  Similar diagnosis, looks like a SLAP injury, torn Labrum.  He'll be getting an MRI next week but the Dr. is pretty sure he's going to have to go under the knife with a 5 month rehab.  He'll never be in shape for spring training.  At this point in his life it may be time to move on.  He's had a great career, finished strong as an all star, the MVP of the all star game and was named the POY of his team at the end of the year, but it's not how you want to end it.  He had planned to teach and coach HS baseball but he coached the JV team at his old HS last year, and after talking to several HS coaches the time to do it right, and dealing with the parents has him rethinking that idea.  Because of his good reputation he'll probably be welcomed by most HS and college coaches in the area if he offers his services to work with their catchers and pitchers.  He'll always stay attached to the game somehow, it's in his blood.

Corn,

My oldest was diagnosed with a SLAP tear this Summer as one of several bad shoulder and elbow injuries.  Famous Doctor #1 said two surgeries (shoulder, then elbow) were required or maybe he should just hang it up.  Doctor #2 suggested biologics as an alternative, i.e., stem cell and PRP injections.  My guy chose the injections route and has begun his return to throwing program with no pain so far, 11 weeks post injections.  PM me if interested in more info.  Every situation is different of course.  And it's certainly possible my guy could need surgery.  But so far, so good. 

OK, MRI is in.  Both torn Labrum and torn Rotator cuff.  Surgery is Tuesday.  5 weeks in a sling and 5-6 months rehab.  I don't want to hijack OP's thread so I may start another about his recovery.  Thanks for all the good wishes,  looks like his career is over, but baseball got him an education, paid for a summer playing professionally in Europe after college, Played a summer in the Southwest and 2 years in Canada.  Met some great people everywhere he went, got the thrill of hearing his name called in the 2013 MLB draft,  played in two regionals, two professional All Star games and finished with 6 rings, 2013/14 Big South in college, 2013/14 Coastal Plain league (one as a player, one as a coach before heading to Europe), one Pecos League(2015) and one Can Am League(2016).  Played for former MLB manager of the year Hal Lanier for 2 years, played the Cuban National team 2 years in a row and even got to catch a Cy Young winner, Greg Gagne in a game.  He's a great young man, his future is bright.

Back in early September NTGson was operated on to repair a slight tear in his throwing shoulder's labrum. We were informed after the procedure by his surgeon that the injury was minor, that he would be immobilized for 3-4 weeks and his rehab would take 3-4 months before he would be able to throw at full effort from the mound. His doctor has now termed him the "poster boy" for labrum surgery. He has been ahead of schedule in his recovery from the first day, was able to discard the sling after 3 weeks, was throwing softly at 6 weeks and was cleared to resume the pitchers' full lifting schedule December 5th. Upon his return from the Christmas break, he will start throwing bullpens. His Mom and I are totally amazed and thankful for the diligence of his doctor, his coaches and the training staff. May all athletes who have suffered an injury be as equally blessed as NTGson has been.

Last edited by NotThatGuy

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×