May 27, 2011
Hoover, Ala. – T.J. Pecoraro’s elbow issue signals the first significant injury of the Commodores’ season. While many who watched Pecoraro walk off the field speculated that it didn’t look serious, it brings to light the realization that the Commodores have been extremely fortunate regarding serious injuries and that injury in itself is an inherent part of the game.
The Vanderbilt baseball program has enjoyed a long run of remarkable health among its talented corps of arms. It’s not by mistake as pitching coach Derek Johnson is a true scientist when it comes to building pitchers with the support of trainer Chris Ham and strength coach Gabe Teeple. If Pecoraro does need ulnar transplant surgery, commonly referred to as Tommy John surgery, T.J. will be able to rely on his teammates. Curt Casali, Mark Lamm and Navery Moore are all veterans of the surgery made famous by the former Major League southpaw and are eager to recount their own success stories.
“It was a similar injury for me as what happened to T.J.,” recounted Navery Moore, who kept himself busy while rehabbing his senior year as a DH and earned All-Mid-State honors at BGA. “I was pitching in the sixth or seventh inning my junior year in high school and I felt a pop. I tried to throw another pitch, but the pain was there. It takes time to get the velocity back and your confidence. It is frustrating.”
This season, Pecoraro has teamed up with southpaw Kevin Ziomek to form a freshmen tandem that shared the dual role of midweek starter and go-to conference weekend middle relievers. Pecoraro is personified as a freshman that had a true feel for pitching beyond his years, but the possibility of facing 16-18 months of rehabilitation can test the patience and self-confidence of most players.
“The first part of rehab for me was preparing my shoulder and forearm to be ready for when the elbow started healing,” remembers Mark Lamm who had Tommy John surgery in August of 2009 after being injured in a summer league game. “The second part for me was tougher. When I actually started throwing I had a couple of setbacks. It hurt (the elbow) and when it did, I would think that I hurt it all over again. Ham (VU trainer) and my doctor told me that it was scar tissue and I had a brand new elbow, but in the back of my mind I have to admit, it bothered me.”
Senior catcher Curt Casali actually delayed surgery on his right elbow during the 2009 season moving to first base instead and enjoyed a career year hitting .336 with 10 home runs and 59 RBI. “I think that it’s toughest for pitchers because they have to get all their pitches back. I was just throwing straight. Pitchers have to get comfortable with throwing fastballs, curveballs and change-ups all over again. It’s a challenge, but T.J. is a tough kid and he’s a competitor.”
It’s the first significant injury for a team that has major post-season expectations. For Vanderbilt, this inopportune injury may yet turn into an opportunity for another Commodore to step up and play a bigger role this season, as was the case when Corey Williams went down with a shattered kneecap against Florida in 2010. Grayson Garvin turned it into a preview to this season’s SEC Pitcher of the Year performance.
“It’s always untimely,” added Moore. “When it happens to you, eventually you realize that it’s really all out of your hands. That’s where being invested in your team and drawing off them helps you stay involved. It’s tough not being able to pitch when that is what you do. T.J. has a terrific mindset as a pitcher, much better than mine was in high school. We are there for him as has been there for us.”
