TicketsJune 15, 2011
By Shawn Sell
GoBEARCATS.com
From the early stages of 2011, former University of Cincinnati pitching great and current Minnesota Twins farmhand Dan Osterbrock knew something just didn't feel right. His able left arm, which carried him to a school record 21 career wins at UC and another 18 in two minor league seasons was bothering him, despite what the doctors were telling him. By late May, the situation had worsened and the Cincinnati native was forced to shut it down.
Osterbrock's 2011 season got off to a fairly good start, as he returned to the Fort Myers Miracle of the Class-A Advanced Florida State League, the same spot he finished the 2010 campaign. In four appearances, including three starts, Osterbrock posted a 2-0 record and a 2.95 ERA, but struck out just nine in 18.1 innings of work. All the while, he just couldn't shake the pain in his left shoulder.
"It started hurting back in January and I told the Twins about it and they sent me up to Minnesota to get an MRI done," Osterbrock recalls. "I guess the MRI showed everything was clean, but that my rotator cuff was a little weak so they sent me down to Florida to get some work done strengthening it. During spring training, it was still kind of bothering me but not too bad. I got a cortisone shot and it eased the pain for a little bit. They kept telling me that I was going to be alright and that I should try to play through it and I did for as long as I could."
Not wanting to face the possibility of not being able to pitch, Osterbrock soldiered on in the Florida State League, despite a significant drop in velocity on his normally low-90's fastball. A promotion to Double-A New Britain (Connecticut) in early May actually turned into the beginning of the end for Osterbrock in what should have been a big step in his pro career.
"With the heat in Florida, I could get loosened up enough where the pain was bearable, but when I went to Connecticut, it was brutally cold and I was real tight and it hurt bad," he says. "Plus, the hitters are a whole lot better in Double-A then they are in high-A. I was only throwing my fastball 75-78 (miles per hour); I think I topped out this year at 82. It is nearly impossible to get guys out that way, so I had to shut it down and get it fixed."
In early June, Osterbrock once again headed to Minnesota for a third time, but this trip would result in surgery on his pitching shoulder by the Twins' medical staff. During the procedure, doctors removed part of Osterbrock's bursa, shaved down some bone that was sticking out and cleaned up some other areas. Since the surgery, Osterbrock has returned to the Twins' complex in Fort Myers, where he works daily with the organization's rehab coordinator.
"I get to the field everyday at 8:00 a.m. and I have certain routines I have to go through," he says. "Right now, I am in phase one of my rehab which is working on getting my range of motion back. The trainers stretch it out a little bit too. In the next couple days, I will start using one pound weights on my rotator cuff to strengthen it up a little bit. They say that with the shaved down bone, it will be a few weeks before I can even start to throw. So my estimated time of arrival is August 25th."
By late August when Osterbrock would be likely to return, the minor league seasons will be in their latter stages. If he can't make it back before, Osterbrock is eyeing winter ball, perhaps in Puerto Rico or Australia, with a full recovery expected in time for the start of the 2012 season.
UC continues to be well-represented in the professional baseball ranks, with three more former Cats cranking up pro careers very soon. Cincinnati Reds' draftee Dan Jensen, along with free agent signees Nick Johnson (Chicago Cubs) and Chris Peters (Toronto Blue Jays) will join the ranks when the short season leagues kick off play next week. Jimmy Jacquot, another former Bearcat, is also expected to continue his pro career in short season action as well. Here is a capsule look at the rest of the UC pro baseball alumni:- Ryan Baker: Recently returned to action with the Double-A Trenton Thunder of the Eastern League where he has appeared in four games, collecting one RBI.
- Tony Campana: After a storybook big league debut with the Chicago Cubs on May 17th against the Cincinnati Reds, Campana has become a regular contributor. In 22 games, Campana is batting .244 with a pair of doubles and is a perfect six-for-six in stolen bases. Campana scored the game-winning run in walk-off fashion against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 4th, after leading off the 10th inning with a double.
- Lance Durham: Durham has played in 22 games for the Class A Lansing Lugnuts, where he has slugged a pair of home runs and six doubles, while driving in 15 runs.
- Brian Garman: Garman shook off a rough start to the year and a trip to the disabled list and has pitched in 17 games in relief for the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Covering 24 innings, Garman has notched a pair of saves and a 1-2 record, along with 28 strikeouts. After seeing his ERA balloon above 10 early, he has worked the mark to a respectable 4.88.
- Josh Harrison: Harrison became the third active Major Leaguer from UC when he debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 31st by collecting two hits against the New York Mets. Since then, Harrison has seen action in 10 big league games, hitting an even .300 with a double and three RBI.
- Kevin Johnson: In 11 relief outings for the Class A Hickory Crawdads, Johnson has turned in a 1-1 record and a solid 3.07 ERA, while opponents are hitting just .167 against him.
- Logan Parker: In his second season with the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League, Parker has started the season on a terror. Through just 24 games, Parker ranks third in the league with a .396 batting average, tops the league charts with 28 RBI and is third with six home runs.
- Cameron Satterwhite: After being traded from the Florence Freedom to the Rockford RiverHawks prior to the season, Satterwhite has tallied four home runs and 10 RBI through 22 games.
- Mike Spina: Spina has enjoyed a fine start to the 2011 season, competing with the Midland Rockhounds of the Double A Texas League. Nearly halfway through the year, Spina ranks among the league leaders in doubles (T-9th, 15), home runs (T-9th, 10), RBI (T-7th, 45) and walks (5th, 37).
- Kevin Youkilis: Now in his eighth season with the Boston Red Sox, Youkilis has moved across the diamond from first base to third this year. In just over 60 games, Youkilis is hitting .259 with 18 doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 42 RBI, good for a tie for 10th in the American League in the latter.