Jarrod Parker won't need Tommy John Surgery

by DJSlam on Aug 11, 2009 10:26 PM EDT

Diamondbacks pitching prospect Jarrod Parker will be shut down for four-to-six weeks due to a strained right elbow.

Parker paid a visit to an associate of Dr. James Andrews last week. He'll avoid Tommy John surgery, but probably won't resume throwing until late mid-September. The 20-year-old has a 3.68 ERA and 74/34 K/BB ratio in 78 1/3 innings at Double-A Mobile this season.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090811&content_id=6373040&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari&partnerId=rss_ari

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not out of the woods yet....

they were decidedly vague about the MRI and diagnosis. They said they were going to try rest first. I would feel a lot better about it if they just said he had some inflammation or something, but I have a feeling he might have a small tear that they are hoping heals with rest. I hope I’m wrong, but normally they don’t send guys to Andrews unless the MRI shows something major. Even though it wasn’t Andrews himself, that doesn’t really make a difference.

by loop on Aug 11, 2009 10:48 PM EDT reply actions

a muscle tear would be great

but if you mess up connective tissue you’re almost always looking at surgery… connective tissue has weak blood supply and it takes forever to repair itself, often mandating surgery

so if there is a small tear let’s hope it’s a muscle

by gorilla_baller on Aug 11, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

This doesnt mean he doesnt need it. It means theyre going to try rest and rehab first. Pretty standard and basically just means the UCL wasnt completely wrecked.

by alskor on Aug 11, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

i wouldnt say it was vague

they called it a “strained elbow.” basically he pulled the muscle a little. no different then a strained hamstring or calf. the d backs would be absoluely foolish not to do the surgery NOW if he needed, because then his 2011 season wouldnt be hindered nearly as much

by rangersfan24 on Aug 11, 2009 10:56 PM EDT reply actions

except that

the hamstring and the calf are muscles, while the “elbow” is not. you can strain ligaments too.

by TheBigOne on Aug 11, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

a better comp

would be a strained knee

by smoooooth on Aug 11, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions

A strain, by definition is a tear.

It doesn’t mean he’ll need TJ, but it’s something to keep an eye on.

Tools Whore

by Tyler on Aug 12, 2009 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions

+1

Strain = minor tear. People really need to learn that there isnt any sort of major difference between the two – its basically degree of severity.

Chances are that they found a little damage to his UCL and lots of swelling. Rather than immediately opting for surgery theyre going to hope it heals sufficiently for him to pitch with it. Every pitcher’s Tommy John ligament has a little damage, really… except for RA Dickey.

by alskor on Aug 12, 2009 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions

hope youre right

its just normally with pitching prospects, they don’t strain it and its over and done with. I mean it did happen to David Price in spring training the one year, but the way they are making it sound, it just seems a lot more serious then they are letting on. Couple that with the fact that they tried to rehab and rest Brandon Webb ALL SEASON with his shoulder injury, lets just say I’m not all that confident he won’t still need surgery.

by loop on Aug 11, 2009 11:13 PM EDT reply actions

Good.

Keep him out until he is 110%. His arm is gold to us, we don’t really have much of a farm anyways. I don’t want Parker becoming a pitcher who had a bright future but damaged his goods.

by CaptainCanuck on Aug 12, 2009 3:31 AM EDT reply actions

delaying the inevitable

Dewey Finn = Dylan McKay, King Billy Royal = Zack Morris, RedSoxFaithful = Millhouse Van Houten, Paul Thomas = Steve Urkel, Galt = Screech Powers, Bravesin07 = Richard Stabone, Hero66 = Beavis

by Dewey Finn on Aug 12, 2009 8:48 PM EDT reply actions

So I ask...

If Parker does end up with Tommy John, how good will he be when he comes back? Will he still be as promising as before or be completely broken? I’m concerned about his, and the D-backs future.

by CaptainCanuck on Aug 13, 2009 4:52 AM EDT reply actions

you wouldn't know until he comes back

Most pitchers that have TJ surgery do eventually recover completely, but there is a chance that he won’t be as effective. You basically just have to wait and see.

by jibs on Aug 13, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Most do....

But between 15-30% never come back. Also, young pitchers tend to have a harder time to recover.

"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Aug 15, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Chances are pretty good he returns to where he was. A lot of guys even end up throwin harder after TJ these days – theory being they rededicate themselves to a strict workout regimen and take better care of themselves.

The issue isnt really the arm… medical science has really come far in that respect… its the year and a half plus of development time he’s gonna miss.

by alskor on Aug 13, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions