My Injury
“Snap”and my life as a pitcher was finished and possibly my high school baseball career! Those were my thoughts as I walked to the dugout. My pitching arm was lifeless. The next day, I sat in the doctor’s office with a swollen elbow. I was sixteen years old when the doctor told me I would never pitch again without extreme pain. I had torn my ulnar collateral ligament, commonly known as the Tommy John ligament. This ligament is located inside the elbow and stabilizes the elbow joint. In order to pitch in baseball, it is crucial to have a healthy ulnar collateral ligament. It was at this time, the doctor gave me four options; surgery, learn how to throw with the opposite hand, play a different position, or never play again. That’s when I learned my true identity.
After much research and discussion with my family, we decided that surgery was not an option. With the help of my family, we decided that surgery was not an option. Tommy John Surgery is extremely brutal and painful. Doctors first remove a substitute ligament from either your wrist or thigh. Then, they adhere the replacement to the bones that connect to your elbow. The recovery time is extensive. After surgery, you enter a rehab program that can last anywhere from six to eighteen …show more content…
Jacksonville State University sponsors a fall baseball league for high school players. My friends and I have been participating since our freshman year. This year, I signed up as both a left handed and right handed player and showed the coaches what I could do. I was not able to throw as hard as some of the other players, but not a single ball got passed me at second base or shortstop. I made diving catches and double plays. I never thought that would be possible. I even got a few “great plays” from the head coach. I was amazed at the way my hard work paid off. I could not wait to see what the regular season had in store for
“Snap”and my life as a pitcher was finished and possibly my high school baseball career! Those were my thoughts as I walked to the dugout. My pitching arm was lifeless. The next day, I sat in the doctor’s office with a swollen elbow. I was sixteen years old when the doctor told me I would never pitch again without extreme pain. I had torn my ulnar collateral ligament, commonly known as the Tommy John ligament. This ligament is located inside the elbow and stabilizes the elbow joint. In order to pitch in baseball, it is crucial to have a healthy ulnar collateral ligament. It was at this time, the doctor gave me four options; surgery, learn how to throw with the opposite hand, play a different position, or never play again. That’s when I learned my true identity.
After much research and discussion with my family, we decided that surgery was not an option. With the help of my family, we decided that surgery was not an option. Tommy John Surgery is extremely brutal and painful. Doctors first remove a substitute ligament from either your wrist or thigh. Then, they adhere the replacement to the bones that connect to your elbow. The recovery time is extensive. After surgery, you enter a rehab program that can last anywhere from six to eighteen …show more content…
Jacksonville State University sponsors a fall baseball league for high school players. My friends and I have been participating since our freshman year. This year, I signed up as both a left handed and right handed player and showed the coaches what I could do. I was not able to throw as hard as some of the other players, but not a single ball got passed me at second base or shortstop. I made diving catches and double plays. I never thought that would be possible. I even got a few “great plays” from the head coach. I was amazed at the way my hard work paid off. I could not wait to see what the regular season had in store for