Congratulations Tequila! You and your son's determination, optimism and updates will help many parents and kids for years to come!!
I must admit, as I read your updates, I wasn't sure it was going to work out for you and your son. You should be really proud!
Thanks Cabbage and CT. I think the work is only beginning from a baseball perspective. Shoulder injury recovery seems like ticking clock to me but he'd like to get four more years out of his. If HS season goes well, he'll probably go up to see Cressey for a week this summer and see if he can get his motion fine tuned, and a solid prehab/health routine, to help it last as long as possible. Outside of that, it's strength, conditioning, and preparation to leave the nest in store for the next five months or so. What a ride so far!
Fantasmagoupolis! Great news to hear about your son + for the family. Congratulations!
Congratulations to your son and family! I have been following along waiting to see what happens. Perseverance pays off! Good luck for the rest of his high school season and future endeavors
Wonderful news! So happy for him and your entire family!
Wow, that's fantastic news. What an exciting path he is choosing. There's so many good things others will be able to take from his journey to recovery.
Great news Tequila. He has worked very hard and it is well deserved.
Sounds like your son has a good head on his shoulder. I am sure the parenting has been excellent as well!
Hi Ken....man I really hate to hear that about your son. I'm not sure about a slap tear not being a big deal as that sentiment flies in the face of most of what I've read and heard for overhead throwing athletes. It can be a career ending issue but there are also plenty of cases where significant recovery is seen. I suppose if it is minor enough, and doesn't cause significant pain that impacts performance, then one could live with it but that was not the case with my son.
2019 is still doing PT, focusing almost entirely on strength now as well as continued range of motion. He's played nearly his entire HS season now, gradually increasing his throwing effort percentage and I'd say he's somewhere in the neighborhood of 85% of max effort. Still a lot of work to be done but he's having enough success that he's the guy at his position with the exception of some non-conference games where they let him rest. He's sore most all of the time and I think that's just something to be expected. As you know, shoulder surgery is very invasive and somewhat destructive to the surrounding tissue so a little more care and preparation is part of life for him now. It's not injury pain so, as long as it stays there, he'll continue to ramp up as able.
Does your son have plans to go back and address the possible labrum tear surgically or is that off the table due to the eligibility timeline? Best of luck to him and please let me know if I can answer any other questions you might have about this process!
Sorry I saw your update after I had posted.. but my son really is hoping this guy knows what he is doing.. I feel like if he has to wait another 6 to 8 months he will be done.. So keeping fingers crossed he can rehab enough. Plays 1B now so not as big a deal as playing Outfield or pitching I guess, but as you know you better rake to play 1B. Thanks again for all your posts.. and advice. Keep us updated and good luck.
Ken Adams posted:Sorry I saw your update after I had posted.. but my son really is hoping this guy knows what he is doing.. I feel like if he has to wait another 6 to 8 months he will be done.. So keeping fingers crossed he can rehab enough. Plays 1B now so not as big a deal as playing Outfield or pitching I guess, but as you know you better rake to play 1B. Thanks again for all your posts.. and advice. Keep us updated and good luck.
You mentioned your son's fall season at juco. I think this is the applicable D1 rule (his fall juco season will probably cost him a year of eligibility):
12.8.3.1.1 Two-Year College Scrimmages. A two-year college prospective student-athlete may compete in a scrimmage as a member of a two-year college team without counting such competition as a season of competition, provided the competition meets all of the following conditions: (Adopted: 1/11/94, Revised: 5/9/06, 7/31/14)
(a) The scrimmage is approved by the two-year college;
(b) No official score is kept;
(c) No admission is charged;
(d) No official time is kept;
(e) The scrimmage is played prior to the two-year college’s first regularly scheduled outside competition; and
(f ) The prospective student-athlete participates in not more than two such scrimmages or dates of competition per academic year.
I haven't posted in this thread in a few months, mainly because there hasn't really been anything to report, but with my son's fall practices ramping up I thought I'd give a small update. It's been 13 months since his surgery and his arm has felt pretty good leading up now, with expected soreness in the shoulder but nothing concerning. The team measured some things yesterday, including pull-down velocity and my son was fairly pleased that he reached 86. Though he played it off, I believe he was concerned since he hasn't really thrown max effort more than a couple of times since the surgery. He said it's very sore today but not "injury" sore. Ice and ibuprofen are your friends. Anyway, I just wanted to put this out there for others who may have athletes in similar circumstances to show that there is hope if you stay the course during rehab. For my wife and I, it seems like a gift for him to continue to be able to play so we're concentrating on soaking it in for as long as possible and are long past sweating the small stuff!
great news Tequila! prayers for continued healing
Great news! Stay the course!! still recovering, but sounds like moving forward!
I didn't realize it but it's been nearly a year since I updated this thread. My how time flies!
As the journey of every baseball player will, my son's has officially come to an end. We dropped him off for sophomore year at his D3 college a little over a week ago and he made the decision to hang them up. It has been a great ride and I wouldn't take anything back. His decision came from a combination of factors and was well thought out and measured. Nothing dramatic, just time to move on and see what he can do with the time and energy diverted to other endeavors. I put this in this thread because I think it's an appropriate close to it and a portion of the result most definitely relates to the injury. Through that lens, I've got three pieces of insight to share:
1. The timing of the injury/surgery/rehab certainly impacted his path. There is no way to know what would have been but I am fairly confident that this was a major factor in how it materialized. He essentially hit the pause button on playing development at the end of his junior year of high school and could not fully pick it back up until somewhere in the early spring of his senior year. The impact of this was huge and, though he ended up having a good senior season, exposure in the recruiting timeline and continuous applied work at his position were irrevocably impacted. Go into it with eyes wide open.
2. With shoulder injury/surgery, a player can do everything prescribed to the T and there is still a good probability that a full return will not happen physically and/or mentally. Go into it with eyes wide open.
3. It's hard to trust the body after surgery on a throwing arm. My son's shoulder will never be the same as prior to surgery. We knew this, so it was no surprise, but worth a mention. It takes much longer to warm up (especially in cold weather), hurts often when throwing max velo, is sore longer, and is pretty much stiff all of the time. Go into it with eyes wide open.
I'm sorry to reiterate the "eyes wide open" bit but we were really fortunate that my son's surgeon was up front with us about this. It created a comfort in that he may return - at least for a while - or he may not, so every bit of baseball we got after that was cherished. He did return to full capacity, at least from a physical assessment (mobility, velo) standpoint, but he was never really the same mentally. I believe there was fear and caution in the back of his mind at all times and I don't think he could truly perform at his highest level with those present, whether it was conscious to him or not.
Before he went back to school we talked about how all of this paved the way for mom and dad as far as "weaning" us off of his baseball. We didn't get to see him play for nine months, then we had three months of HS ball in the spring of 2019, and haven't seen him play since. This year, between a shortened spring season and simple lack of playing time due to competition at his position, we never saw him play any in college. And I'm OK with that. Though I thought I might be sad about this turn of the page, I'm surprisingly not and a portion of that is because it ended with my son having a great conversation with a very supportive head coach. I can't wait to see what he does now.
This site has been a tremendous resource in my nearly three years out here and I sincerely wish everyone who has seen, or will see, this thread well. I hope the somewhat loose chronicle of my son's timeline might help others who may experience any of it first-hand. I will check back in here from time to time to see what's going on but, if I don't get to as often as I intend, best of luck to everyone!
With everything you said and with Covid it is tough. My son is also still trying to play after his injuries and surgery. He found a great PT guy that got him back and finally this summer was able to throw from 3B to 1B. Took him 10 to 15 AB's vs good college pitching to figure his timing out but finally did. Didn't lose a year last year so technically has 2 years of baseball left but could graduate by summer. I told him several times, "nothing wrong with just being a student" but he says he wants to keep playing. We worked out a good bit these last 2 months since he has been home from Summer ball and I will be honest. With Covid the uncertainty would have made me give up by now. So I applaud him for wanting to keep playing and my wife and I will do whatever we need to do to make sure we support him. He left for a new D2 school last weekend and seems to be enjoying it so far. Baseball has been lifting and working on the field so we will see. Good luck to those working through injuries or just trying to keep playing.
It seems hard at the moment baseball ends. My daughter got in four years. My son’s career ended in a doctor’s office in January of senior year. If you play you may not finish the season or walk properly again scared him. He opted for the second surgery.
But you enjoy your kids will still do amazing things. The journey doesn’t end with baseball.
Someone here once joked I could still go to the courtroom and watch my daughter compete. I must admit I get a thrill seeing her name in the paper when she gets a conviction on a major crime (murder, rape).
Once baseball was over my son commented at a large family Thanksgiving Day, “Damn! Now I’m as boring as the rest of you!” He’s done well. But analysis to save a corporation millions of dollars isn’t as exciting as playing college baseball. It does pay a lot better.
Then there’s grandkids (I’m still waiting). Comedian Jeff Allen once said grandkids are your reward for not killing your teenagers.
Hey Tequila,
Good to hear that everyone is in a good place with the way things are developing. And your post provides some very real insight. It's weird to think this way but i do feel that those in you and your son's situation are fortunate in many ways, seeing and being able to come to grips with the likely end of the baseball road. We do, as you said, cherish the last pages of that chapter more and are in a better mindset to begin the next.
Here's to the next chapter !!! Best to you and son and do keep us informed. Beyond just pulling for another great HSBBweb family member, hearing about the bigger and better things after baseball is also helpful to the community.
@RJM posted:...
Once baseball was over my son commented at a large family Thanksgiving Day, “Damn! Now I’m as boring as the rest of you!” ...
So funny and just enough truth
Thanks, Tequila, I have followed your son's story with interest. With all the issues in college recruiting and playing baseball, I think injury is one that many people think about least, and yet it could happen at any time.
Thanks Tequila, im so sorry, but appreciate you sharing your story. It's helping more people than youll ever know im sure.
@edcoach posted:Thanks Tequila, im so sorry, but appreciate you sharing your story. It's helping more people than youll ever know im sure.
Hi edcoach and thanks for the response and sentiment. Though I will miss seeing him on the field, there's no sorrow involved for me. In addition to everything else on his college plate, he's also doing AROTC so as baseball winds down he ramps up in another direction. I'm very much excited for his (and our) next chapter!
@cabbagedad posted:So funny and just enough truth
In my generation we’re all businessmen, corporate and trust lawyers. Boring!
Being the oldest in my generation by eleven years my kids are the only ones of the kid’s generation out of K-12 to grad school. My daughter gets all the attention because she’s not boring. She’s a prosecutor.
that's awesome...sounds like he has a great head on his shoulders and was raised right. 99.99% of our kids will not play in MLB and as cliche as it is is exactly why they have an education to fall back on
Echo-ing, thanks for all your input on this site over the years. keewartson has surely had (more than) his share of injuries/surgeries, and more than once we thought it was the sudden end of the roller coaster ride of baseball. I am so glad you are in a good place.
There IS life after baseball....and some come back here to tell about it!
As mentioned above baseball will end for everybody, some sooner than others. Whether it ended in HS, college, or pros you have achieved what majority of others can only dream about. I've said before baseball is a combination of talent, being a student of the game, work ethics and luck. When son started playing in college I stopped praying/wishing he would get so many hits, win, error-free, etc. Instead I would say a silent prayer for him, his teammates, and opposition to remain injury free. As with everyone we've seen what injuries can do to alter a baseball future. Luck (unlucky) and destiny are things which you can't control. Thanks Tequila for the update and wishing your son a great journey after baseball.
Thanks for sharing Tequila! Best of luck to you and your son. There is life after baseball, it just looks a bit different.
@Picked Off posted:Thanks for sharing Tequila! Best of luck to you and your son. There is life after baseball, it just looks a bit different.
I second what Picked Off posted as well as others. Baseball ends at some point. Sounds like he had a great coach.
Best of luck to your son and to your family!
@anotherparent posted:Thanks, Tequila, I have followed your son's story with interest. With all the issues in college recruiting and playing baseball, I think injury is one that many people think about least, and yet it could happen at any time.
+1.
Best of luck to Tequila Jr, Tequila and family.
Thank you for sharing your experiences. My son is heading in for a very similar surgery this Friday and your notes over the 2 year period were very insightful. He is a 2023 pitcher and we have been told to expect him to be out for the full Junior season. Hopefully he will be able to recover in 12 months and will be able to showcase a bit in the fall of his senior year.
Thanks again.
