Hi All,
My 2017 just had TJS the beginning of this month and is set to start rehab next month. His Dr has told him that if he does the works and stays focused throughout his rehab, next summer he should be able to start pitching one inning in games and hopefully fully back by Fall Ball his senior year. My son's question is how will this effect his being recruited? How should he respond to letters from schools that he is interested in?
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Much will depend on what recruiters and MLB scouts have seen before the TJ surgery. Those that have seen his ability and were interested in actively recruiting him should still be interested. It is possible they could lower their offer, and then raise it based on his recovery.
If your son has shown good ability in the past, but not enough exposure, you could think about JUCO. We have also seen a few cases where those in your position have gone to a prep school for an additional year.
Most important is to not try and rush the recovery. That could cause big problems.
Keep in mind that MLB clubs have actually drafted pitchers that are injured and recovering from TJ, in the first round. So the general thought is most pitchers come back fully recovered. What you were before surgery is what you will be after surgery. Of course, sometimes it doesn't work that way, even though the odds are pretty good.
Best of luck
Somewhat off topic but do you have any inclinations of what could have contributed to your son's need for TJS?
As a dad of a 2017 pitcher I tend to be the a-hole who has to be the "bad guy" and keep my son from being over-pitched.
It wasn't from overuse, it was the beginning of the season. 2017 was 15 pitches into his second start of the season. He threw a fastball felt a click or pop and he threw one more pitch and knew there was a problem. 2017 was feeling the best he had in a long time. He was throwing hard but there are kids his age throwing harder. He was clocked at 86 at an event in March. The doctor told 2017 from what he saw in the MRI and what he has seen with others, his arm was moving at such a high rate, and the ligament in his elbow couldn't withstand the pressure and torque that was created so it gave out and snapped.
Much will depend on what recruiters and MLB scouts have seen before the TJ surgery. Those that have seen his ability and were interested in actively recruiting him should still be interested. It is possible they could lower their offer, and then raise it based on his recovery.
If your son has shown good ability in the past, but not enough exposure, you could think about JUCO. We have also seen a few cases where those in your position have gone to a prep school for an additional year.
Most important is to not try and rush the recovery. That could cause big problems.
Keep in mind that MLB clubs have actually drafted pitchers that are injured and recovering from TJ, in the first round. So the general thought is most pitchers come back fully recovered. What you were before surgery is what you will be after surgery. Of course, sometimes it doesn't work that way, even though the odds are pretty good.
Best of luck
2015 LHP is 10 months post TJS... although a two-way HS player, he is not seeing any game time this Spring. He was fortunate that he was verbally committed to B1G10 school prior to the surgery...with the college coaches indicating that they would honor scholarship as long as he got it done immediately (ie: no more therapy to see if that would help) and have it done by a reputable surgeon (we went with Kremchek). All has gone well so far and he is taking it slow. He will foerever approath arm care, mechanics, conditioning,etc different ever since TJS. He did have some MLB interest last summer, but dropped off for obvious reasons once he had TJS.
I believe things happen for a reason. Take it slow....he is still young with a future ahead of him. It may not be how it was drawn up, but success can come through many pathways. Best to your son and family!!
