Returns from Tommy John surgery may seem routine. Recovery can be full of grief, angst and isolation
This is an interesting article about Daulton Jefferies and the emotional aspects of TJ surgery for a ballplayer that broke into the MLB relatively recently. It’s especially timely for me, as my son will be going through the process in a week or so.
The article talks about identity crisis and the loss of connection to something that's been there all of his life. We tell our kids that baseball is something they do, not who they are… However, if you received positive attention for something at age 5, and your still getting attention for it as a young adult (20+ years later) how can it not be part of your self-identity?
For my son, without diminishing the blessing it is to have the tools and opportunities to be a pro athlete. Watching from the sideline as a parent you get an understanding of the year-round commitment, extreme physical and emotional effort required for the role.
The job itself is nothing but challenges with the upcoming surgery and rehab being the next ones in his journey. Nobody wishes for adversity, but it's inevitable and I couldn't be more proud of his choices and how he continues to navigate his path.
Baseball is blessing and a very tough gig…
