Cortisone Shot or Tommy John Surgery?

Where to even begin... I would have considered myself a very lucky/healthy person when it came to sports related injuries (minus a shoulder setback and a broken arm) but nothing I couldn't play through until a little over 9 months ago in a game against Clemson. We were up by 3 runs heading into the top of the 6th and our starter was beginning to show signs of fatigue. I started to get loose in the bullpen but it was taking a while longer than usual (my thinking--> it was just one of those days) and I figured I would be ready by the time I got in the game. Coach gave me the nod for the 7th and although a little wild at the beginning I finally settled in after surrendering a run. I went back out for the 8th and right before I released my first warmup pitch I felt a sharp pain almost as though someone jabbed a knife into my elbow and twisted it.

Beginning of a New Semester

Coming back to campus from break allows guys to catch up in the locker room and typically ensues a few stories from break.  But also with coming back from Christmas break means that we are getting ready to get back into the swing of things with practice and practice in the spring is a little more cut throat than the fall.  Positions that were question marks tend to get penciled into the lineup and weekend rotations and bullpen roles tend to be filled in the "bubble". The competition tends to pick up during practice stemming from drills all that way through inter squad games.  I think the toughest part for us is bringing the same energy and intensity to practice from day 1 all the way through to the beginning of the season.  We are at a slight disadvantage being in the north because our practice "field" is a bubble which stretches across the football field rather than practicing on our snow covered field. Many guys came back early to get a head start but we have a team meeting tomorrow night followed by our first practice.  The challenge for the team is to find your role on the team and make the most of the opportunities which are given.

Arriving On Campus

I am a 5th year senior but it took me my whole freshman and sophomore year before I really grasped the concept of being a student-athlete. Before college I grew up in a small town in Indiana. Evansville is the birthplace of former Yankee Don Mattingly but other than that it is pretty much just another dot on a map.  I grew up as the youngest of three but my siblings are 10 and 12 years older. By the time I was a teenager my brother and sister had already moved out and my parents didn't go to college so I didn't have anyone to talk to about it. My motivation for writing this blog is that nothing prepared me for college or being a student-athlete and maybe I can help someone else.