Stanford undergoes successful Tommy John surgery

Stanford undergoes successful Tommy John surgery
Former Barton County Community college baseball player Jason Stanford underwent successful reconstruction of his left ulnar collateral ligament Thursday in Birmingham, Ala., in late July and will be sidelined the rest of the season, a team spokesman said.

Stanford had been shut down since April 20 after complaining of discomfort in his left forearm. The Indians had hoped a conservative program of rest and rehabilitation might get Stanford back into the rotation.

But when he complained last week of continued discomfort, the Indians sent Stanford to see Dr. James Andrews, a noted specialist. In consultation with Dr. Mark Schickendantz, Andrews performed Tommy John surgery on the 27-year-old left-hander.

He is the third left-hander in the organization who has had the reconstructive surgery in the past year. Billy Traber and Brian Tallet had Tommy John surgery near the end of last season. Both are rehabbing the injury.

Like Tallet and Traber, Stanford will be expected to miss a year, which will leave a void in the Indians' pitching ranks. The club had counted on Stanford to be an important piece in their success this season.

Stanford went 0-1 with a 0.82 ERA in two April starts covering 11 innings.

If all goes well in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Stanford could be ready for game activities on a rehab assignment in the first half of next season.

Cleveland trainer Lonnie Soloff said that Stanford's surgery went well and the target range for Stanford's return is nine to 12 months.

"In an ideal world, he'll be throwing off the mound during Spring Training and will be ready for game activities on a rehab assignment in June, 2005," Soloff said. "He'll start physical therapy on Saturday in Cleveland."

Soloff said he doesn't think Stanford aggravated the elbow by throwing in the Olympic Trials. 
"The first time he ever had any elbow symptoms was in April," Soloff said.

Soloff said the Indians have taken a "proactive approach" in hopes of limiting elbow injuries to pitchers.

"We're a little more cognizant of pitch counts both in high school and in college," Soloff said. "And from the physical side of things, their elbow strength and range of motion, their forearm strength and range of motion, their rotator-cuff strength and range of motion."