January 5th, 2010 | 
Author: I jotted down notes about my bullpen or general throwing sessions from months 7-9.5 of my recovery. I discovered it while cleaning my place. I’m just rewriting what I had down, so I may or may not be able to clarify if you have any questions.
March 22 – Good, not sore
March 24 – Good, not sore
March 26 – 7 months – Good, not sore
March 28 – 15 Changeups; good, but not perfect
March 30 – 10 changeups, discomfort on 1/3 of them
April 1 – 3/4 speed; no changes, no pain, 66-71 mph. felt ok, not perfect next day
April 3 – felt good, not perfect; 45 pitches @ 3/4 (speed)
April 6 – 1st two digits had pain when pressure applied
April 9 – mid to upper 70s, little pain; felt good after 4 days off prior
April 17 – no pain! 65 pitches at 3/4
April 19 – long tossed to 240 no pain
April 21 – felt good. into low 80s maybe
April 23 – gun read 75-77. TIRED! but no pain
April 25 – 8 months – Hit 81, consistent 76-79 50/30 pitches
April 28 – long toss to 270, 45 pitches at 85%
April 30 – 30 + 45 vs hitters. 82-84. Felt good
May 2 – VERY tired from April 30. Arm achy and slight pain, very dead. threw 70 at 2/3 speed
May 4 – flat ground, 15 curves at 50 ft. pain still, arm not recovered from previous.
May 7 – Hard pen, felt good. 80 pitches at 90%
May 9 – good long toss, felt great.
May 11 – 100% from mound, 100% changes, 50% curves (15). felt good, no pain, but knotted up on forearm after.
May 14 – 100% fast + cu, no curves. Still knot in forearm but no pain
May 16 – 45 fast-curve-change, 75-75-50% respectively. less tightness, no knot next day.
May 18 – Light pen, 30 curves
May 20 – In game, 28 pitches. 30 curves beforehand. Bicep Dead, big knot afterward. No throw 21-24.
May 25 – In game 35 pitches, no knot after, felt good
May 27 – 70 pitch pen, 30 90% curves, felt good, bicep better
May 29 – 50 pitch, 70%, curves getting sharper!
May 31 – 60 in game; arm felt slow, but great after. 55 fb/ 5 curves. No tightness at all.
June 2 – Long toss, hard but not too many throws. Need to get intensity up and let go. Felt good next morning.
June 4 – Bullpen 20 max effort, 85-90. Arm felt achy, some occasional pain twinges, and very dead. Decent next day. Fatigue in bicep/tricep still, but not terrible.
Thats the whole log. Wish I had done more of that during it all, but I was more interested in getting after it than writing it all down. Hindsight…
Hi,
I noticed in your notes from 7-9.5 months you were throwing long toss up to 270. My son is about 4.5 months out from his tj surgery. His rehab only has him going out to 180 and then moving to the mound. After that it says to warm up to 120 and then go to the mound.
I think the longer throwing distances are helpful and want to have him keep throwing longer as his arm gets stronger. The doctor does not believe that though. How did you come upon throwing those longer distances before you were completely cleared? I believe in your other posts you said you were not completely cleared until 10 months.
Thanks,
Rob
First, I don’t advocate anyone straying from their doctor’s orders. I’m no doctor, and for me to recommend disobeying your surgeon’s orders would be reckless and irresponsible.
And, like I wrote in other posts about the surgery, every doctor sees different results and prescribes different things. I didn’t have an arm brace, ever, which many would consider very dangerous; most guys wear them for 6 weeks. There are probably tons of ways to write a successful rehab program, but, seeing as how you chose your specific doctor for his knowledge and skill set, I wouldn’t recommend anything but to stick with his wishes. If he does everything the doctor asks, he will make it to the finish line just the same as those who do unorthodox things. Players DO re-injure themselves, so err on the side of caution.
We will stick with the program. Thanks for the advice. It makes sense.
Hey Im 8 months removed from TJ. Ive been throwing but very timidly. I stumbled across your article and was just wondering what you did for strengthening exercises. My doctor didnt give me a rehab program, so Ive been on my own basically. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
If you look in my “pitchers homework” category on the left column you will find the elbow rehab that was given me. I started light and did 2-3 sets daily, then as the resistance got heavier, I stuck with 2-3 sets and dropped to 3-4 times per week. All reps were 15-20, nice and slow. I also follow the shoulder workout outlined in that same pitchers homework category. You should have been given rehab to follow; that’s a shame. I’m not sure what kind of success you can expect without going through all of the strengthening, especially in the early going. Most people by 8 months are throwing off the mound at about 75-90% intensity. Best of luck to you.
Hi I had surgery about 8.5 months ago and just started throwing 100% recently and am 84-86.. does velocity typically increase over the time? or is this about where ill be? before surgery was 89-92. thanks!
No, it will keep increasing. There’s no way of knowing where your ceiling is, but a number of factors will allow you to keep increasing: 1. your elbow and forearm is still not as strong as it will be. 2. What is 100% to you today is probably not a true 100%, and the longer you throw at 100% the more your body will learn to move fast, which will allow it to move even faster. 3. More innings at full will keep strengthening everything.
I was able to touch 90 at 9 months. 2 months later I would throw 90-91 for an inning or two. A year later, I throw nearly every pitch there or above. I’ll hit 2 years in a few months, and It’s still getting better. Keep progressing with it and it will keep getting better.