GLENDALE, Ariz. — If there’s a subsequent wave of expertise developing by means of the White Sox’ farm system, it would seem packaged in a collective elbow wrap.
But right here’s the factor about Tommy John surgical procedures: Pitchers typically bounce again with the identical and even higher velocity than what that they had earlier than they have been damage.
Some don’t, after all, so the Sox are crossing their fingers whereas ready for Michael Kopech, Carlos Rodon, Dane Dunning, Jimmy Lambert, Zack Burdi and Ryan Burr to recuperate from their procedures.
Whew, that was an extended record.
It by no means appears to finish for the Sox, whose newest Tommy John sufferer was left-handed aid prospect Hunter Schryver. He left spring coaching and went below the knife final week in Chicago.
The first of the above to return needs to be Kopech, who’s throwing with out restrictions after having surgical procedure in September 2018. Kopech, the staff’s prime pitching prospect, may very well be in a Sox uniform once more in May or June.
Rodon is progressing properly and could be again in July. And Dunning, a 6-4, 200-pound strike-thrower who came visiting with Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez from the Nationals within the Adam Eaton commerce — and was wanting the a part of a future rotation piece when he went down at Class AA Birmingham in 2018 — could be pitching within the minors in June. Dunning will throw his first reside batting follow of the spring Friday.
‘‘It feels phenomenal so far, knock on wood,’’ Dunning stated.
Dunning is the Sox’ No. 6 prospect, based on MLB Pipeline. Lambert, who — like Dunning — missed all of final season, is No. 16. His first bullpen session is scheduled for Monday.
Even although the process has develop into commonplace — Giolito, Dylan Cease and Aaron Bummer have already got had theirs — the harm and subsequent time without work at all times rocks a pitcher’s world.
‘‘I told my parents and my brother that I hated having [Tommy John surgery],’’ Dunning stated. ‘‘At the same time, I honestly feel blessed because it taught me things I needed to focus on. It has taught me patience and seeing baseball through a different perspective. It has made me stronger and showed me things I wasn’t engaged on and issues I must do to keep up by means of a season.’’
The Sox’ mind belief has evaluated and reviewed the rash of Tommy John surgical procedures and chalked them as much as a sequence of unlucky occasions.
‘‘I think we do everything right,’’ Lambert stated. ‘‘We have the arm care and the lifting and everything. And I just think sometimes, you know, it’s dangerous luck. And you’ll be able to say that about us and our younger pitchers.’’
If there’s a silver lining in all this ‘‘bad luck,’’ it’s that distress and restoration love firm.
‘‘It’s not best, however we’ve all had one another,’’ Lambert stated. ‘‘We go through it together. As we get better physically, we also get mentally together. And I think we’re all going to be higher for it after we come again, for positive.’’