UCL tear

BucsFan posted:

cabbagedad posted:

BucsFan posted:

Many thanks to both MrBumstead (for the exciting milestone) and 2014 Dad (for the cautionary tale / insights).  My 2016 RHP is just a couple of months behind (10/21 will be anniversary of TJS).  He is feeling great (actually, instead of "good", he has been saying "fantastic" recently) and has 1 week left of a month long 100% rest of the arm - per Dr's orders.  He did the rehab protocol to the letter from mid April through early Sept.  Upon return, two weeks of long toss before getting back on mound for good - that takes him to mid October.  All of this means he may or may not throw live to hitters this Fall.  To his credit, he (perhaps moreso than I) has the long term perspective.  I'd like to see him at least in a scrimmage to show the coaches what he can do, but HC (also PC) told him in Spring exit interview to just be ready by February.  He is at Ivy school in NE, so the Fall season is not very long, as you can imagine.   I often think of the emotions that will hit me when he is out there in live action (he hasn't thrown live since playoffs his senior year of HS...injury happened after first bullpen on campus last Fall).

Good news and best wishes going forward to him BucsFan!  Curious, what is the idea behind the month long 100% rest after rehab and prior to long toss?  And also, same question about just two weeks of LT before getting on mound after a full month shut down?  Curious to hear the experts' take on the process.

Thanks for good wishes and for the thoughtful questions.  I don't have a lot of detail other than:

1. Month Off:  Dr and therapist literally said "you will have thrown for 4.5 months (the length of the full throwing protocol) and simply need to rest your arm, rest your body."  They even told him to take 2 weeks off from working out (not sure if he did or not...unlikely).  I think the idea was also to get him the time off (albeit a month or two late) that a pitcher normally would have during the year (late July/August).  He will be working hard with PC/HC up through Thanksgiving on "individuals" (ie, bullpens), so I thought it all made decent sense to me.  Also, he did work up to 60 pitches at 90-100% at the end of the protocol.  He said that was cool; all of the coaches and most of the team was watching and pulling for him.

2. I don't think the Dr and his therapists envision him going live just two weeks post LT.  That is the big question and the part that is slightly frustrating (to me, not my son).  If he was just a week or two ahead of this schedule, he could probably throw an inning or two in a Fall game they have vs. another D1 in the area.  But, since he will have just gotten back on the mound (to start his build up to going 100%), he likely will just miss it.  I was hoping we could "thread the needle" and get him live action/competition, but it doesn't seem like it will happen.  I am hoping they at least let him throw a simulated couple of innings before it gets too cold.

In essence, the "experts" told him that once he comes back after the month off, he is "good to go" and build up as he and his coaches/trainers see fit.

Awesome, thanks.  Makes sense and sounds like everyone is totally on top of things with him.  Would just hate to see him try to ramp back up too quickly for one fall outing when things are going so well with early Spring and full health in sight and on schedule.

OK, just the facts, because I wasn't there and my son is not the first to go through this process..so no need to layer on a bunch of emotions.

My son hadn't faced a batter (literally had not thrown a single pitch with a man standing in the box) for 17 months (senior year, HS playoffs was last time).  This Friday will be 1 year anniversary of his TJS.  Dr. Kremchek had purposefully slow rolled his rehab throwing protocol (given the timing).  HC/PC saw him throw a pen this week and decided to let him throw an inning yesterday in a scrimmage vs. another D1 in New England.  He came in late for a freshman who was struggling, inheriting a 2-0 count and R1 and R3, no outs.  After a double steal, MIF mishandling throw down, he had R2, no outs.  He then goes BB, HBP, K, K, K.  He threw nothing but fast balls.  They did not put a ball in play.  The last K was 3 pitches with at least 2 (he said maybe 3) swing and misses.  He said he felt "fantastic" and it was "really awesome".  HC was "ecstatic" and said it was "incredible" how he pounded the zone after the layoff and after finding his release point.  Velo was fine, not where it was/should be/will be, but just fine for now.  HC wanted him to go back out for another inning.  AC said "wait, wait, what are we doing?  It is October and he is coming back from surgery!" So, they thought better of it.

Two other facts:

1. Good thing I wasn't there or I would have cried like a baby, and

2. I enjoyed a big fat cigar on the deck in his honor.

Then the Steelers beat the Chiefs, and my day was complete.

Very happy for you guys but you ALMOST ruined it with the Steelers comment. ;-)

BucsFan posted:

OK, just the facts, because I wasn't there and my son is not the first to go through this process..so no need to layer on a bunch of emotions.

My son hadn't faced a batter (literally had not thrown a single pitch with a man standing in the box) for 17 months (senior year, HS playoffs was last time).  This Friday will be 1 year anniversary of his TJS.  Dr. Kremchek had purposefully slow rolled his rehab throwing protocol (given the timing).  HC/PC saw him throw a pen this week and decided to let him throw an inning yesterday in a scrimmage vs. another D1 in New England.  He came in late for a freshman who was struggling, inheriting a 2-0 count and R1 and R3, no outs.  After a double steal, MIF mishandling throw down, he had R2, no outs.  He then goes BB, HBP, K, K, K.  He threw nothing but fast balls.  They did not put a ball in play.  The last K was 3 pitches with at least 2 (he said maybe 3) swing and misses.  He said he felt "fantastic" and it was "really awesome".  HC was "ecstatic" and said it was "incredible" how he pounded the zone after the layoff and after finding his release point.  Velo was fine, not where it was/should be/will be, but just fine for now.  HC wanted him to go back out for another inning.  AC said "wait, wait, what are we doing?  It is October and he is coming back from surgery!" So, they thought better of it.

Two other facts:

1. Good thing I wasn't there or I would have cried like a baby, and

2. I enjoyed a big fat cigar on the deck in his honor.

Then the Steelers beat the Chiefs, and my day was complete.

 

That’s awesome! I can only imagine how proud you must be and how happy your son must feel after an outing like that! 

Glad to hear he's back on the bump!

Super cool!

Congrats!  My LHP son also went to Kremchek and just celebrated three years post TJ.  Glad your son took his time with process and best days ahead!  Enjoy each milestone. 

That is such great news, Bucsfan!  

HawkeyeNation1 posted:

Congrats!  My LHP son also went to Kremchek and just celebrated three years post TJ.  Glad your son took his time with process and best days ahead!  Enjoy each milestone. 

 

Great to hear. Sending you a PM.

Hey...been a while.  We need a "bump" here.  Who is that leading the Cape in K's and top 5 in ERA?!!!  I have lost track of ChefMike but I sure am proud of his son!  What a comeback from TJ.  Also, did anyone see his incredible performance against Stanford in the Regionals?! 1 run, 1 BB, 6K in 6.2 IP.   You can run, ChefMike, but Jeremy cannot hide.  Seriously, hope all is well. 

http://pointstreak.com/basebal...6&seasonid=31242

I know the feeling, - congrats, it's great to see people overcome adversity/misfortune! My son had UCL Primary Repair surgery last September and I savor watching him pitch every time now. The first time I damn near cried. He's getting better and more confident each time and it's great to just see him happy playing ball! Hopefully he is able to get some college interest and continue playing. He's got the grades and the size for an Ivy, but the fastball for a D3.  But with continued work on the arm, who knows where things will lead. It will all work out somehow. 

Hi Everyone, It has been a very long time since I posted. The IT guy at work blocked this website and that is when I had most of my free moments . 

Got the email from Bucsfan last night and wanted to keep everyone updated. First, Dr Kremchek was and is a Godsend for my son. Very specific program on how to get back to what he loves.

This year has been great for him. The coaches at Wright State decided to keep in him the bullpen as one of the two main relievers. Lead team in appearances, about 40 IP, about 60 K, 2.5 ERA, 4-5 saves and a 5-3 record. Of course, the highlight was in NCAA game where he came in to relieve in the 7th and basically pitched lights out vs #2 Stanford. I was coaching in Indianapolis that weekend and couldn't get out to Stanford. But watching on TV until 2:15am. Couldn't have been more proud.

He graduated with honor in finance in May and was hoping to be drafted. He had talked to a few scouts and filled out some paperwork but wasn't meant to be. He actually was really disappointed, he wants that opportunity so bad.

As far as Cape, he found out in fall he was going there as a temporary player. Of course, he didn't tell me, one of the other parents on his team told me. God bless that child.  He is playing at Hyannis and after 2 relieving appearances, he became a starter. I asked him if they had removed teh "temporary" tag and he said no but he wasn't worried. Since then he has made 4 starts and overall 26 IP, 3.11 ERA and 36 K, which leads the Cape as Bucsfan said. The downside the is BA against is high at .291 and WHIP at 1.42.  He wasn't named as an all star which i thought he had a good chance, but as usual, he couldn't care less.

The future is a bit undecided at moment. As a graduate, he is probably going to transfer. Wright State does not have his grad program, so he has been looking. He has some very nice offers from some very nice schools (both academically and baseball) across the country and is going to visit his final 2 next week. It has been a long process and he is drained, I'm a bit frantic as both those schools will start in about 5 weeks and he still hasn't even officially applied (he is not worried at all -ugh). 

I'll try to be more active on here, certainly will let you know teh outcome of where he lands.  So many people here helped me and my son thru the journey. Hopefully more to go after next year, but I want to give back as much as I received here.

Thanks Bucsfan for the reach out!

Thanks Chef....

Congrats Chef. Sounds like he will get a chance to be drafted. Another successful year will hopefully prove to the scouts he deserves a chance. It is a grind and a cruel sport at times. Best of luck to your son and family. 

Sounds like he has recovered nicely, and things are rolling! Good for him!