OT: Joel Zumaya Injured Again

Submitted by Happy Gilmore on

The ex-Tiger signed a one year deal with the Twins in the off-season. In his first live BP, he threw 12 pitches and tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. He could elect to have Tommy John surgery, but then is looking at least another year in rehab before being able to try to pitch again.

This is really too bad; he was such a stud as a rookie in 2006 and has been plagued by injury since, pitching less than 40 innings since. Hopefully he can figure out what is best for him and his family moving forward, whether that be electing for the surgery or retiring.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7617885/minnesota-twins-jo…

Stephen Y

February 26th, 2012 at 4:52 PM ^

Is anybody surprised?  I want him to succeed more than the next guy, but there are some athletes that will never be able to rehabilitate their injuries.  See Greg Oden.  It's sad, but he should probably move on.

manchild56

February 26th, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^

White Sox fan this dude was just a killer over the last 3 or 4 seasons. But since the have traded away the whole team or let the best pitcher and coach go to Miami. It doesn't matter much the Tigers are gonna walk away with this Central division this year without any problem at all. Sad for Joel anyway.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

February 26th, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^

Ugh, I felt horrible when I saw that.  Talk about a guy who needs a break.  Not the kind he's been getting, either.  With Zumaya things like this have always felt completely inevitable.  In a way he's our generation's Bird - you know you'll be talking to your kids and grandkids about the legend he would've been.  We'll always have 2006, though.

mGrowOld

February 26th, 2012 at 5:10 PM ^

In other Central division news Indians closer Chris Perez hurt himself throwing today and joins Grady Sizemore on the unlikely to play opening day list.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7617694/spring-training-2012-chris-perez-cleveland-indians-injured-4-6-weeks

I'm sorry but why do baseball players seem to get hurt doing the most routine things and then need weeks and weeks of rebab to recover while football and hockey players can get their arms ripped out of their socket and be back in the game after the next time out? 

Blue boy johnson

February 26th, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^

Part of it is baseball is a more exacting sport. If you have a blister on your throwing hand and you are a pitcher, you can't pitch. Wouldn't be a problem in football. If something is wrong with your wrist, shoulder, hand, and you can't grip the bat or take a full swing, you can't play, wheras a football player (see Steve Everitt) can play with a broken arm.

Naked Bootlegger

February 27th, 2012 at 9:30 AM ^

Didn't Everitt play many games with a broken jaw?   I think he also had a dislocated thumb (mabye broken?) that required him to snap with the opposite hand.   

These are just mere details, though.  Everitt was a legendary.   He was one tough sunofabitch (and followed a very artistic-oriented academic pathway).  

da3mite

February 26th, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't he hurt himself playing Guitar Hero a few years ago? Serious question. 

He has certainly had plenty of bad breaks.

vablue

February 26th, 2012 at 5:59 PM ^

He got wrist tendonitis from playing guitar hero.  The crazy part is the trainers told him to stop playing or it could cause worse to happen and he ignored them (that bit of information comes straight from him in an interview with the Detroit News).  I wish he had better luck as I loved watching him, but when a trainer tells you to stop doing something you stop doing it.

San Diego Mick

February 26th, 2012 at 6:17 PM ^

I never met him but I'm friends with his uncle, we've done some serious drinking and women chasing. Man, he told me some interesting stories about Joel's time in the D. He's just a cool normal kid with really bad luck.

I hope he can get healthy one day, he was one of my favorites for a time there.

bacon1431

February 26th, 2012 at 6:31 PM ^

It's amazing that one guy with a freak arm can't stay healthy for more than a few weeks while another guy with a freak arm hasn't had one hint of injury issues (Verlander knock on wood)

Tater

February 26th, 2012 at 9:48 PM ^

I really hope he saved some of his money, ala "The Bird."  Zumaya is still young relative to the non-professional athlete universe, and can have plenty of success off the field.  A few million to invest in a business could be a great start.  

Blazefire

February 27th, 2012 at 8:51 AM ^

He wasn't just anothe good baseball player, like a HR hitter or what have you. He had a unique skill. Being the fastest thrower there is puts you in a category of one. He should be able to make a career or speaking engagements, youth clinics and other things sports greats can do when it's all over.