Matt Edwards has had Tommy John surgery. The report in today's paper had him saying it was not a gradual injury but a sudden thing, according to what the surgeon told the family. The paper stopped short of indicting the coach by name but the implication is pretty clear to anyone who's been following the story.

Matt lost out last year (freshman year) after a bout of mono put him behind the eight ball in terms of earning playing time and innings. With a 6-to-9 month rehab ahead of him, now he will not get to pitch his sophomore year, either.

The surgery was deemed successful but it's a hard road ahead. This is a great kid with a lot of ability, and I only hope he can recover to where he can show that ability again. He has at least 2 years of eligibility remaining, maybe 3 if he redshirts. I hope he doesn't give up, and I hope this doesn't destroy any dreams he had of a pro career.

Awful, just awful.

Just wish him a "speedy" recovery.

Here's the article :

Post 186 pitcher has surgery
Richmond Times Dispatch August 29, 2006

Matt Edwards, the Midlothian Post 186 pitcher who injured his right arm in the American Legion World Series last week, underwent reconstructive elbow surgery yesterday, his father said.

Edwards had an ulnar collateral ligament transplant, Jon Edwards said. That procedure is known as "Tommy John" surgery after the major-league pitcher who first had it.

Edwards, battling a sore arm, pitched to 10 batters in relief in Post 186's final game, a 6-2 loss to eventual champ Metairie, La. After throwing a pitch in the sixth inning, he grabbed his elbow and fell to the ground.

"Everything went OK," Jon Edwards said. "I asked [Dr. Jody Smith] if it looked like it was wear and tear. He said it looked like it was more instantaneous."

Edwards, who will be a sophomore at Virginia Military Institute, will miss at least six to nine months. Jon Edwards said he is hoping his son will be able to hit and possibly play some first base during VMI's season. He was hampered by mononucleosis last year.

"It's a setback," Jon Edwards said. "But I told my wife, 'This is his freshman and sophomore years. When he's a junior and senior . . . he'll get VMI into the NCAA tournament.'"

-- Tim Pearrell

Best of luck to the young man. His family seems to have things in perspective.

Wishing for the best for Matt Edwards. What a competitor! Hope he comes back better than ever.

Hopefully people will learn a lesson in what happened here. I feel sorry for the coach, he must feel terrible. But now he should go on a mission of teaching others through this bad experience. Seems like a class guy, who loves the kids. I doubt this will ever happen again (at least not this way) to another of his pitchers. I think he will tell others to be careful, too.

http://uconnsportsmed.uchc.edu/patientinfo/lectures/presentations/ucl.html

I think a lot of what happens sometimes is based on the individual and his growth development. All the more reason for any coach to be careful. You just never know why it happens to some and not others.

A "DAYS REST" RULE needs to be in place based on # of pitches throw in a game which will control the number of innings pitched for a season.

Legion as well as high school needs to come up with some type of rule, nothing in NHFS in regards to pitching limits unless I missed it.

Legion has 12 innings max. in 3 consectitive days.

I came up with this model … just something to look at and modify.


2 days rest … pitch on Day 3 ... 30-50 pitches

3 days rest … pitch on Day 4 ... 51-75 pitches

4 days rest … pitch on Day 5 ... 76-100 pitches

5 days rest … pitch on Day 6 ... 101-120 pitches

For those of you who followed 186 but that don't know the Edwards' personally and are interested in how Matt is doing here's an update. He's been going through physical therepy in Lexington several times a week and is still VERY active with the team and in practices. He has almost all range of motion back and the strengthing/rehabilitation part has begun. He's in the weight room with the team on lift days and is doing what he can. Still a long road ahead but a lot of progress has been made in a short time. You can see he wants to throw now but hes being cautious and is on way to a full recovery.

Thanks for the update. Best of luck to him in the recovery. Good luck to the Keydets this year, too, as there are several players from our area on the squad.

VMIKeydets,

Not my place to say anything, as I sure don’t have any medical expertise. I hope he has a good rehab program and follows it closely.

However, I have been around several of these cases and often the biggest problem stems from rushing the recovery. Not trying to be a know-it-all, I just care about this tremendous competitor! Best of luck to him!

Please keep us up to date.

Update on Matt Edwards on the comeback trail:

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/sports/more.apx.-content-...2008-06-13-0003.html