Here's a nice article that I found on Nick Adenhart and I wanted to share it with everyone:
Midwest League: Nick Adenhart Dominating for Cedar Rapids
By Rick Loerke
May 22, 2006
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Baseball is a game of highs and lows. Just ask Cedar Rapids pitcher Nick Adenhart.
Entering the 2004 season, Adenhart ranked as the nation’s top high school prospect and was likely going to be a top-ten selection in the draft. He opened his senior season by pitching a seven-inning perfect game, recording 15 of 21 outs via strikeouts. As the season progressed, the right-handers performance declined. On May 11, 2004, he left his start after one inning with elbow discomfort.
“I wasn’t sure what happened. It was one pitch, lots of discomfort,” said Adenhart.
An MRI showed a tear in the right elbow. A trip to Alabama to consult with Dr. James Andrews followed, and Tommy John surgery was set for June 15, allowing for Adenhart to complete his coursework and graduate high school.
“It was tough. The anticipation and excitement of baseball and the draft and it crumbles like that,” recalled Adenhart, who credits his family for their help and support during this tough time.
Andrews, considered to be the leading sports medicine doctor in the country, performs approximately 150 Tommy John surgeries annually and has operated on numerous star athletes. In fact, if it were not for Andrews repairing Roger Clemens torn rotator cuff in 1985, it is quite possible Clemens would have experienced a brief, injury-plagued career and not 341 wins and 7 Cy Young Awards over 22 seasons.
Andrews and his staff were very supporting and comforting to Adenhart, not only before the surgery but afterwards as well. For the 12 months after the surgery, Andrews and his staff called Adenhart regularly to see how he was doing.
“Very personable, very polite, southern hospitality,” as Adenhart describes.
With a letter of intent signed to attend North Carolina on a baseball scholarship, along with Tommy John surgery on an 18-year old arm, Major League teams shied away. The Los Angels Angels of Anaheim were the only team that showed interest in Adenhart.
Angel’s area scout Dan Radcliff and director of scouting Eddie Bane remained persistent, selling Adenhart and his family on the fact that the Angels are professionals and have a rehab plan that will get Adenhart healthy and on track to reach the Major Leagues.
Selected in the 14th round of the 2004 draft and receiving a signing bonus of $710,000, the Angels sent Adenhart to Tempe to rehab. While in Tempe, Adenhart enrolled at Arizona State.
“It took my mind off rehab and was a chance to make friends,” said Adenhart, who did not know anyone in Arizona. “Education is important and something I definitely want to complete at some point,” said Adenhart, whose baseball schedule makes it nearly impossible to complete classes, especially during the spring semester.
Radcliff and Bane were right. With the Angels rehab plan and Adenhart’s hard work, determination and perseverance, only one year and 10 days after having surgery, Adenhart made his professional debut with the Mesa Angels of the Arizona League (Rookie). He went 2-3 with a 3.68 ERA, pitching 44 innings in 12 starts.
Adenhart, who turns 20 on August 24, has been lights out this season with Cedar Rapids. Off to a 7-0 start on a team that is four games under .500, Adenhart has accounted for over a third of Cedar Rapids wins.
In 9 starts, the 6’3”, 185-lb pitcher has posted a 1.56 ERA, allowing 41 hits in 57.2 innings while striking out 60 and walking 12. Opponents are hitting .196 against him.
His WHIP, which is walks and hits per innings pitched, is 0.92. For comparison, Pedro Martinez is the active Major League career leader with 1.02, followed by Curt Schilling and Greg Maddux at 1.13.
“It’s hard to get in a groove and compete when you know your only out there for 1, 2, or 3 innings,” said Adenhart, referring to last season at Mesa in which he received limited work with each start.
“With my pitch count up, it’s easier to find the groove and the competitive juices get flowing,” explained Adenhart, who on Friday night snapped a two-game Kernels losing streak by pitching 7 innings of one run ball.
Adenhart, whose fastball reached the mid-80s as a Little League pitcher, throws a fastball in the low 90s with an excellent curveball and good changeup. He definitely has the ability to be a Major League starter.
As for a timetable to the Majors, Adenhart says it is “nothing I think about too much.” Not surprised by his success this season, Adenhart’s goals are to throw strikes and improve with each start.
Invited as a non-roster player to Spring Training with the Major League Angels, Adenhart speaks very highly of the Angels organization.
“They do it right, from the big leagues down. It trickles to the minor leagues,” stated Adenhart. “It gives you a lot of pride in being an Angel.”
Adenhart, who said he used to be fairly superstitious until his injury, is enjoying the Midwest League.
“Good crowds, good host family, I play in a good city. My parents see almost every start which has been nice because I was in Arizona for a year,” said Adenhart, who grew up in Maryland but whose parents now reside in Illinois.
Not only has it been a joy for his parents to watch him pitch, but it has been a joy for baseball fans to see his comeback and success.
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