| Injuries are not uncommon in sports, and with | | | | season which started in February. So four |
| injures comes rehabilitation. On one | | | | days a week I worked on that goal, little by |
| professional baseball roster alone there can | | | | little I got closer and closer. After two |
| be as many as twenty injured players at a | | | | months I have better range of motion and I |
| time. Some have minimal injuries, others | | | | was using weights. After four months I had |
| major, but the main factor in getting that | | | | strengthened enough move the weights up and |
| player back onto the field is rehab. Players | | | | start some more explosive exercises. Let me |
| with minimal injuries such as pulled muscles | | | | tell you, I never knew that it would feel so |
| and sprained joints can get quick rehab and | | | | good to be able to lift my arm over my head |
| be back playing in no time. The real rehab | | | | again! Finally after five months I was ready |
| comes when a player has to get orthopedic | | | | to start a throwing program. It was very |
| surgery on a specific injury. Examples of | | | | important to make sure the strength was there |
| common baseball injuries that require surgery | | | | before starting a throwing program to protect |
| are: ACL (Knee), Tommy John (Elbow), Rotator | | | | against and setbacks. |
| Cuff (Shoulder), Labrum (Shoulder). The | | | | |
| surgery is the easy part, the three hour or | | | | The throwing program started small and was a |
| so procedure is nothing but the rehab after | | | | gradual process. When I say small I mean |
| is the tough part; as a matter of fact it is | | | | small, I started out throwing ten throws at |
| a grind. | | | | ten feet. Soon the program was up to 45 ft. |
| | | | then 60 and on forth. Three months after my |
| May 5th 2005 was my surgery date to repair a | | | | rehab was complete was my first day back on |
| torn labrum. Yes I was scared, I had heard | | | | the mound, and what a great feeling it was. |
| all the bad news about shoulder surgeries but | | | | It was a great feeling until my first throw, |
| I also knew that I would work my hardest on | | | | which hurt because it broke up scar tissue |
| the rehab to get back on that field. And that | | | | that was built up from the surgery. As I |
| I did on June 17th 2006 in the Cape Cod | | | | continued with the throwing program, and |
| baseball league. It was a great feeling, | | | | mound work I started to have confidence. |
| knowing that I made it back from the surgery | | | | Although that confidence was shattered on |
| and I was pitching live again. The one thing | | | | numerous occasions due to soreness or |
| I didn't forget is that 12 months of | | | | fatigue, I was able the work through it. I |
| recovery, rehab and throwing programs. I | | | | felt like I was on a rollercoaster just |
| pitched that summer and it was a great | | | | trying to hang on, there were great, good and |
| experience, better yet my shoulder felt like | | | | bad days. Just to clear it up, while I was |
| it was back and getting stronger everyday. At | | | | doing this throwing program, I was also still |
| the end of that summer, while in negotiations | | | | continuing my rehab, which at this point was |
| with the LA Angels I looked back on the | | | | more maintaining then strengthening. |
| struggles and fulfillment of rehab. | | | | |
| | | | The season was steadily approaching and I |
| The rehab started actually before I had | | | | just wanted up to par on where I wanted to be |
| surgery, they called it "prehab." For two | | | | when the season started. My only option was |
| weeks before surgery I was in the training | | | | to not start the season on time and wait |
| room at the University of San Diego working | | | | until I felt 100 percent (Although I still |
| on strengthening my shoulder before surgery. | | | | question if anyone can feel 100 percent after |
| Those two weeks went by and it was time for | | | | a major surgery). For me that percentage just |
| the surgery. Once out of surgery I was on a | | | | didn't come in time and I was left without |
| five week plan of doing nothing with my left | | | | that adrenalin for a whole baseball year. It |
| arm, I was in a sling the whole time. It was | | | | was hard to watch my team out there battling |
| tough to do the normal everyday stuff like: | | | | and I was not there to contribute. March, |
| writing, changing clothes, showering, | | | | April and May passed and at this time I |
| sleeping and eating to name a couple. Soon | | | | decided to red-shirt and gain another year. |
| there after I was ready for my rehab to | | | | So although I didn't reach the goal of |
| start. One important thing about rehab is | | | | getting back on the mound by the time season |
| always have a goal to achieve during the | | | | started, I knew that I didn't rush back and I |
| process. My goal was to be ready for the next | | | | would be better in the long run. |