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What now? Lost summer

RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
My son injured his knee on the first day of his first showcase this summer. I told him to get an MRI. The doctor told him to get an MRI. His mother sent him to a holistic healer. He didn't listen to the doctor and me. After three weeks against my advice and without clearance from a doctor he tells his coach he can play. Coming out out of the batter's box his knee collapses. An MRI is scheduled for early next week.

To this point the only interest in him has been through him making contact and email exchanges with coaches and his showcase coach telling programs he can play for them. Their was response was interest based on seeing him play this summer.

The summer is shot now. I have to figure if three weeks rest wasn't enough and he's injured himself worse, chances are summer ball is done. Pending recovery and hopefully not needing ACL surgery we'll have the fall to market him to a smaller target market given the time available. However, his speed is one of his most marketable tools. It's going to take rehab, strength training and sprint reps to get his speed back.

What is probably out the window are a lot of high end academic colleges he wouldn't get accepted without baseball. We hope a few still have interest in the fall. I assume by then while final decisions have not been made, team's A and B lists are fairly put together.

If he can't play until winter I'll get him to the last handful of indoor winter showcases and hope some team has a roster spot left.

What if he can't play until spring. What should we do then?. I know it's not unheard of to find a home as a 2011 when colleges are looking at 2012's, but the opportunities are few and the odds long.

We don't see JuCo as an answer. JuCo ball stinks in our region. With all due respect to those who have sent sons to JuCo's I don't see it as an acdemic solution for my son. Picking one college to attempt a walk on seems like a long shot. This is not a kid looking for a shot at pro baseball. This is a kid with honor roll grades who was looking for baseball to get him into the best possible academic situation. He's an excellent high school player capable of playing high end D3 to mid major D1.

If he showcases with the 2012's next summer what are the chances he can secure a guaranteed walk on situation?. I realize the money will be all gone by then. Money is not an issue. The opportunity to play competitive baseball at an academically acceptable college is. I will not send him to Timbuktu Basketweaving State just to play four more years of baseball.

Will quality programs take him on video and coaches recommendations?

Any ideas? Suggestions?

If I'm rambling I apologize. An ACL injury was not part of the business plan we made a couple of years ago.

Add to post: I'm thinking pitching would add time and opportunity to the window. He throws 84/85 with very little instruction. We could amp up the pitching instruction over the winter. He would rather be a position player. But he would rather be a pitcher than not play. Opinions?

** The dream is free. Work ethic sold separately. **

Last edited {1}
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Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
quote:
If I'm rambling I apologize. An ACL injury was not part of the business plan we made a couple of years ago.


Sorry to hear that. Unforunately injuries do come up and it's no fun. My suggestion would be to target some of the higher-academic schools that you're son is interested in. See what they say.

If you have any questions ACL-related, fire away. I know there's several on here who have been there, done that.
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
Originally posted by bothsportsdad:
what did he decide to do about his test score?
I hired an private tutor to work with him for six weeks leading up to the SAT's. It won't be cheap. When my kids were young I joked if a kid was hitting .250 and getting a C in math too many dads would pay for a hitting instructor over a math tutor. The SAT tutor costs half as much for six weeks as his showcase team does for off season workouts and the summer season.
T Tooldforthis100+ posts
RJM,
Went through this 2 years ago with my son, that's when I found this web site.
First and foremost, get him to a surgeon and have the MRI done ASAP. If it is an ACL and is torn, he can get back in anywhere from 2 to 4 months, but, complete recovery will take about 9 to 12 months. Son tried to play but after talking to a lot of people, including 08Dad whose son went through the same thing, we decided my son should redshirt his first year and decided to go to a JUCO to get the general education classes done and work on GPA.

But, as I said before, Get the MRI done now, sometimes it can take up to 4 or 5 months to get into surgery than any chance for playing next spring will be completely gone.
Last edited by Tooldforthis
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
I am sorry to hear about your son's injury, but perhaps at this time you should see what the MRI brings and follow a plan to apply for schools that fit his academic profile with baseball in mind for later on, if he has to try to walk on.

I do beleive that if he is accepted to a school without an NLI he is free to sign anywhere later on. Don't give up on JUCO there are great ones with good programs all over the country he can use to be seen and take basic courses that underclassman need. The if it doesn't work out, reapply to the academic school of his choice. And then there are winter camps and showcases to get exposure as you suggested.
B bbfan1110+ posts
You aren't alone. Same here with 2011 grad, having knee surgery early Aug. Doctor says he should be good to go in 3 months, so early November should be able to participate in baseball if all goes as planned.
Question I have which also applies to you as well.
Is it a bad time to contact colleges regarding baseball? Does one get it out there that there is a knee problem? Do you just wait until fully healed then resume the process?
TH the hill10+ posts
This happened to a kid we know. Alot of top D1 schools looking at him and talking with him. In the fall of his sinior year torn ACL schools quit calling and did not play in the spring sinior year. Went to a top JUCO out of state had 2 great years. Now just got picked up by a very good D1 program for his final 2 years. There are ways to do it.
birdman14birdman141,000+ posts
Something else you might consider would be to do a post-graduate year at a prep school. This could help in 2 different ways. First it would buy your son time to recover from his injury and be available next summer for the showcases and events he is missing this year. Also it would allow him to work on his grades and SAT's to gain admission at some of the loftier schools he desires to get into.
B BillBill100+ posts
RJM - I am sorry that your son was injured. I know it is tough. Teenagers were made with a mind of their own and so often then have to learn for themselves.

But I think you may still have good options available to you. Especially since your focus is on academics as much or more than baseball. I agree with what Bulldog 19 said much earlier in this thread. The bright side is that with your son having the injury now rather than a year from now it may help him focus on the more important things about his college decision.

How is his baseball resume? Does he have showcase results, newspaper clippings, or scouts that are already familiar with him? These are things that can be utilized to get colleges interested interested in him even with his injury. I suggest that you use any information you have to target the higher academic D1, D2 and even D3 colleges and I'm sure he will find a good fit.

Good luck! I've dealt with some similar issues.
J justakid100+ posts
RJM - Have you considered club baseball for your son? Most ACC schools, if not all, have club teams. In many cases, the club teams are more "successful" than the D1 teams. The travel, commitment, enjoyment, rigor, schedule is there.

Especially if you are fortunate enough to not need to rely on a scholarship to pay for college, this may be a terrific outlet.
B brod100+ posts
Step One: Medical opinion, surgery, rehab.

Step Two: Get better and don't worry about baseball until he is 100%

Step Three: Go to a local JC and play a year while taking transferable classes. This is just what he needs to get back in the swing of things. Then you can start the recruiting process over.

Step Four: Calm down! Injuries happen to everyone's kid. If he has talent someone will still want him, but rushing things will just screw it up forever. Many parents look on recruiting as a race to get recruited out of high school. But that is just when the race really starts. He has 5 years to play 4 in college. Take advantage of that. He needs to get stronger. This gives him the opportunity.
OB Ole Ball Coach100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by brod:
Step One: Medical opinion, surgery, rehab.

Step Two: Get better and don't worry about baseball until he is 100%

Step Three: Go to a local JC and play a year while taking transferable classes. This is just what he needs to get back in the swing of things. Then you can start the recruiting process over.

Step Four: Calm down! Injuries happen to everyone's kid. If he has talent someone will still want him, but rushing things will just screw it up forever. Many parents look on recruiting as a race to get recruited out of high school. But that is just when the race really starts. He has 5 years to play 4 in college. Take advantage of that. He needs to get stronger. This gives him the opportunity.


IMO, this is great advice; especially the parts in bold. Nothing works if the boy is not completely healthy.

I have been a strong proponent of junior colleges in other posts (and it worked out real well for us) but it isn't for everybody. I will say this, though; my oldest boy played on two jucos (one a nationally ranked mid-Atlantic Juco) and there were DOZENS of former "can't miss" high school ballplayers from our area that were playing on other jucos looking for a four-year school because their prospects (for whatever reason) didn't work out.

The ones that can play find a program; they've shown that (away from mommy and daddy), they can handle the academics and the athletics. The best part is that the proof is right there for all to see. Kind of cathartic, actually.


RJM - I wish all the best to your son; I hope he has a complete recovery and can get back on the field and back at full speed as soon as possible. If his focus on academics, though, he should go to the school that he would attend if he weren't playing.
ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
quote:
Originally posted by brod:
Step One: Medical opinion, surgery, rehab.

Step Two: Get better and don't worry about baseball until he is 100%

Step Three: Go to a local JC and play a year while taking transferable classes. This is just what he needs to get back in the swing of things. Then you can start the recruiting process over.

Step Four: Calm down! Injuries happen to everyone's kid. If he has talent someone will still want him, but rushing things will just screw it up forever. Many parents look on recruiting as a race to get recruited out of high school. But that is just when the race really starts. He has 5 years to play 4 in college. Take advantage of that. He needs to get stronger. This gives him the opportunity.

Outstanding advice.

I think there is an incorrect perception of JUCO's here. They are not there for dummies. I went to a JUCO for many years at night while I suported my family by working full time in the day time. Best educational experience I have ever had. I took courses like physics, calculus, chemistry, economics, english, etc. After my time at the JUCO, I was accepted into some of the top engineering schools in the country with no questions asked. When I graduated from engineering school, my degree was from that school. There was no mention of the JUCO on my degree. Just remember, english 101 is basically the same at a JUCO as it is at Harvard. Sure, there are high SAT scores walking around at Harvard but that does not diminish or cheapen the JUCO experience in any way. fanofgame's son went to a juco for one year and is now at one of the top academic school's in the nation at USC.

In this case, I don't think your son has to go the JUCO route however if you feel that is beneath him. He can still succeed athletically and academically while missing out on this summer. brod's advice about getting healthy is the key to the whole thing. Without that, all this other fretting and stewing is a moot point.
Last edited by ClevelandDad
SA S. Abrams100+ posts
RJM,

Gotta be tough on RJMjr...been following him and sis for a number of years on this and another site.

You know about all the injuries my son had his Jr. and then Sr. years (knee then broken collarbone). All I can recommend is doing what he did and keeping the nose to the grindstone by doing the surgery,rehab and whatever type workout is possible. Keeping all the coaches in the loop after you get the diagnosis/prognosis is equally important as they have seen alot of kids go through this no worse for wear. Personally, I've seen several players come back better than before due to an improved attitude and the realization how much they love the game.

JUCO is a good option in our area but may not in yours. Still something to consider if need be; good chance to get the required courses out of the way and still play baseball.

While baseball may be an avenue to a scholarship to college, if they don't come about due to injury so be it. If your son wants to continue playing in college, then walking on is an always an option. A tough option for sure but perhaps the only one available initially. It's the route my son is going to have work through...he won't be the first or last kid facing the climb.

Really hate this for your son; seeing a gamer sidelined is sad.
Coach WaltripCoach Waltrip100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by RJM:

We don't see JuCo as an answer. JuCo ball stinks in our region. With all due respect to those who have sent sons to JuCo's I don't see it as an acdemic solution for my son.



RJM,

If RJMjr were to transfer to 4 year institution from a Juco and where he would ultimately get his degree the diploma is not going to say, 'But, he did attend a academically inferior Juco...' It's going to say it was awarded from the university where he earned the degree.

I had to send my daughter and now a son to a Juco for financial reasons prior to attending a university. They both were capable of entering a university as a Freshman, but it was a family decision based on economics. If your son can get into Harvard, Yale or Stanford with strong academics all the power to him, but please don't undervalue a Juco education as a foundation for attendance in a university.

I understand you want the best of a baseball and academic challenge for your son. I can appreciate this point...Maybe a high quality NAIA college would be a good match such as Fresno-Pacific, Concordia or Park University. Lots of good baseball at NAIA colleges and a quality education. My daughter graduated from Ottawa University in Kansas with a music teaching degree and was very pleased with her education.
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
quote:
I had to send my daughter and now a son to a Juco for financial reasons prior to attending a university. They both were capable of entering a university as a Freshman, but it was a family decision based on economics. If your son can get into Harvard, Yale or Stanford with strong academics all the power to him, but please don't undervalue a Juco education as a foundation for attendance in a university



KrakatoaKrakatoa1,000+ posts
Having learned what we've learned from Exhibit A, we are actually leaning towards a JC start for Exhibit B. Development as a college-level student, a ballplayer, and a more world-wise human being going into a 4-year institution. Our 2011 is just two months shy of being a 2012 so we are looking at all factors for fit.

RJM, there's some awfully good baseball (I'm sure you know this) at the JC level. I'm not super familar with your quadrant of the country, but if your son is wanting to travel and see new lands, Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California all offer outstanding JC options should you guys decide it's worth a look-see.
Last edited by Krakatoa
OB Ole Ball Coach100+ posts
While there might be some jucos that don't meet the standard academically, most state community colleges have working agreements with four-year state universities to admit students that successfully complete the requirements.

From a baseball point of view, junior college baseball is junior college baseball; there are some very good and some average programs. I think they are what they are. I will say this about it (having watched a couple years of it now), there must be something there because I saw more assistant coaches from four year schools recruiting in any two weeks than I saw in a season of high school games.
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
Update: My son went to an orthopedic surgeon today. In the wonderful world of HMO's he had to have the appointment today to get an MRI scheduled for later in the week. The ortho thinks it's the MCL rather than the ACL which could be of huge significance. MCL's tend to heal faster without surgery.

What I'm not buying is, without an MRI the ortho told him not to play until next spring. My son told him college baseball is at stake. I wasn't there. I asked my son if the ortho looks like a nerd or an athlete. He said a nerd. I told him we need to get him to a sports orthopedic specialist.

It seems rather odd and protective the ortho told my son with a knee brace he can jog straight ahead, throw and take BP as long as he doesn't do anything laterally, yet he can't play until next spring.

Next step will be the MRI. Then we have to get an opinion from a sports ortho specialist.
rz1rz15,000+ posts
RJM,

From past experiences within our HMO, not only do Sports Medicine docs have a better perspective on sport related injuries/rehabs, many times they have the ability to "fast-track" internal processes like MRI's.

With that said, with these situations all opinions need to be put on the table and to error on the side of caution is sometimes the best practice.
Last edited by rz1
Bulldog 19Bulldog 195,000+ posts
quote:
The ortho thinks it's the MCL rather than the ACL which could be of huge significance. MCL's tend to heal faster without surgery.


Definitely good news.. question is did he get both of them? It's actually pretty common to injure both ACL and MCL at the same time.

quote:
What I'm not buying is, without an MRI the ortho told him not to play until next spring.


If he tore his MCL, you're still looking at significant rehab time. You just avoid the surgery aspect. I don't remember exactly, but I'm thinking a Grade III MCL sprain is probably looking at 2-3 months rehab. Rarely will they do surgery on the MCL unless there are other structures involved.

But get the MRI and find a doctor you trust. From the sounds of it, you don't trust the one he saw.
L LTDad10+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by RJM:
... I asked my son if the ortho looks like a nerd or an athlete. He said a nerd. I told him we need to get him to a sports orthopedic specialist...


Wow... So if he "looked like an athlete" you would take his advice at face value and be less concerned about getting him to a sports ortho specialist? Again...wow.
rz1rz15,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by LTDad:
quote:
Originally posted by RJM:
... I asked my son if the ortho looks like a nerd or an athlete. He said a nerd. I told him we need to get him to a sports orthopedic specialist...


Wow... So if he "looked like an athlete" you would take his advice at face value and be less concerned about getting him to a sports ortho specialist? Again...wow.


That's an RJM call on what he feels is best for his family. How he bases his conclusion is his business and no one else. He asked his son a question about the "look" of a doctor and in this case, I would have asked the same, and probably came to the same conclusion. If I have the choice I will take the doc that looks like he understands athletics over a doc that that looks like he might not know how to put on a jock. Not only will the athletic doc probably have some personal athletic knowledge, he will probably be easier to to talk to about the athletic repercussions, rehabilitation, and other athletic issues.
Last edited by rz1
RJMRJMHSBaseballWeb member since 2007
quote:
Originally posted by LTDad:
quote:
Originally posted by RJM:
... I asked my son if the ortho looks like a nerd or an athlete. He said a nerd. I told him we need to get him to a sports orthopedic specialist...


Wow... So if he "looked like an athlete" you would take his advice at face value and be less concerned about getting him to a sports ortho specialist? Again...wow.
My feeling is if a doctor doesn't understand athletes, their will and their stronger than average bodies they're going to play CYA with the ultimate level of caution. My son said the doctor asked why it's so important to get back on the field during the offseason (after summer) when he still has his senior year of high school to play before "he tries out for college baseball in two years."

My son was so freaked out by that statement he called from the doctor's office while his mother was scheduling the MRI. Since that time I got a recommendation from a collegiate athlete's dad to have my son's MRI reviewed a facility that's the sports orthopedic specialists for several college sports programs in the area.
Last edited by RJM
L LTDad10+ posts
I absolutely understand wanting to get a doctor who "understands" and hopefully specializes in athletes. My comment was more a reaction to your implying that one can determine how much sports related experience a doctor has based on whether the doctor "looks like" a nerd or an athlete.

I hope your son is able to recover quickly and get back on the field.
fanofgamefanofgame5,000+ posts
quote:
Wow if that isn't an awful generalization...


In the text of this particular thread I don't think so. How can you diagnose any type of tear without an MRI.My son had a sore groin for weeks.Thought it was a groin pull.Rested, went to the trainer, not better.Xray showed a hip impingement.Nobody thought there was a tear.After soreness became pain, he had an MRI.Hip impingement, torn labrum, required surgery.Trainer didn't think he had a tear.Required recovery 4-6 months.

I believe you are a trainer.And no disrespect but nobody can diagnose a tear without an MRI.
Last edited by fanofgame
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