Heartbreaking setback: Jarrod Parker has another fracture in elbow
The comeback story of Jarrod Parker is one that everyone hopes will have a happy ending. Unfortunately, his outlook became a lot less promising on Friday with the devastating news that Parker has suffered a fractured medial epicondyle in his right elbow.
Parker suffered the very same injury last May 8 while rehabbing from his second career Tommy John surgery at Triple-A Nashville. The injury ended his 2015 campaign, and now his 2016 season is in serious jeopardy as well. And considering the string of major injuries he’s endured, there’s now reasonable concern for his future beyond the next season.
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“We’re just devastated for Jarrod,” A’s general manager David Forst said. “That’s what we’ve been thinking all morning. He worked hard not once, but twice, to come back, and he was obviously emotional about it. We’ll just do what we can to help take care of him.”
Parker, who hasn’t pitched in a Major League game since 2013, was once a highly regarded pitcher and was projected to be a fixture in Oakland’s rotation for many years. He backed up those expectations over his 62 career starts, posting a solid 3.68 ERA. He finished fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2012, and made three additional starts in the postseason.
Making this story more painful is the fact that Parker and the A’s went to bed feeling optimistic about his latest setback. He was originally diagnosed with a muscular impingement, which is obviously a much less serious condition. However, Parker woke up with more pain and some swelling in the elbow, and then an MRI confirmed the bad news.
“He woke up feeling worse, and it was swollen,” Forst said. “The one thing he did say was that he kind of expected the worst. … [Manager] Bob [Melvin], Nick and I met with him this morning to give him the news. He responded as you would expect. He had an idea based on how he felt when he woke up this morning, but I think just getting the news was crushing for him.
“It’s been two-plus long years of this, and as an organization, we’ll be fine — the A’s will be fine — but you just feel for him.”
Once the news became official on Friday, reactions of heartbreak and disappointment for Parker began pouring in.
Those are just a few of the reactions from people who have covered Parker’s career and know of the work he’s put in. Of course, no one knows better than his teammates in the A’s clubhouse. It’s hitting a little closer to home for them, but they have continued to rally around him.
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Parker’s story is a cruel reminder that nothing in baseball or in life is guaranteed or promised. It’s up to us to make the most of whatever time or opportunities we’re given, and Parker has done that when his body allowed. Right now, there no concrete answers on what Parker’s future might hold. He’ll again meet with specialists to determine the best course of action, and he’ll also spend time with his family, who should provide some much needed comfort.
Whatever he ultimately decides though, he’ll have earned the respect of his peers and of fans for continuing to fight.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
