Friday, December 13th, 2013
Pat Larkin Jr. has been upgraded to serious condition after sustaining multiple injuries in a farming accident two days ago. The Eagles catcher is reported to have suffered a collapsed lung and a bruised kidney, in addition to a broken leg and fractured ribs. Doctors were also able to save his right arm, which was severely damaged and nearly needed to be amputated. However, several bones in the arm were shattered and there is likely to be extensive nerve damage. "All things considered, Pat is extremely lucky to be alive," said team doctor Jose Gomez, who visited Larkin Jr. this morning. "The sad news is that his career is definitely over. You just don't come back from injuries like these at his age to play professionally again." While teammates expressed relief that Larkin Jr. was doing better, many were devastated upon hearing that his playing days were finished. "It's just so unfair," lamented teammate Julio Torres (12 - 16, 5.01 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 353 K). "Pat is such a great guy. I'm glad he's gonna be alright, but it tears me up that he'll never play again. He loves the game so much." Larkin Jr. will likely require a prolonged stay in the hospital before he is released.
Larkin Jr. was once a big deal. He was a big prospect with the Bandits, and then-GM Aaron Weiner wrote of how he might be knocking on the door in 1997. He ended up with a .405 average in AAA that year, and followed that amazing feat by hitting .438 in 73 September at-bats with the Bandits! At that point Weiner seemed to be content with keeping Pluvius Avis-Albus, but after the amazing September he seemed to change his tune. That was soon made official. After winning the Rookie of the Month for May, Larkin Jr. was thought to be a top rookie of the year contender, but he faded the rest of the year.
In 1999, questions popped up about a possible sophomore slump. It was just a slow start, as he surged past the .300 mark and was hitting a homer approximately every 30 at-bats. Then, in August, he had the first major injury of his career and his season was over.
He came back healthy in 2000, and got off to a hot start. He ended the year batting .313, though it was a bit of a disappointing season for the club.
2001 would be the finest season in Larkin Jr's career, in which he led the Frick with a .386 batting average. He became a prime example of how a contact hitter could be too lightly rated.
Or was he? The Bandits were already witnessing one time 3rd round pick Dexter Sheehan morph from a defensive backup to a potential stud before their very eyes. Meanwhile, would hit .306 in 2002 and just .282 in 2003. In 2004 the Bandits discussed Larkin Jr. as the face of the franchise, while simultaneously plotting his exit. Next thing you know, the kid has taken the starting job and Larkin Jr is a backup for the first time in his career.
At the end of the year, Larkin Jr. became a free agent and moved on, signing with the Greenville Moonshiners. He'd serve as their backup in 2005, having the worst season of his career with a .229 average. No one could have seen him having a resurgence in 2006, seizing regular playing time and batting .305. He played even more the next year (2007) and hit .308! Way to go, Pat! He then became a free agent again, and the Baltimore Monarchs scooped him up on a four year contract worth just shy of a million a year. He served as a bench player for the Monarchs, only appearing in 18 games through 2008. In 2009, he didn't make the Monarchs roster in Spring Training, was waived, and claimed by the Phoenix Talons. He hit .349 in semi-regular playing time in 2009; and followed that up with a .314 average as a reserve in 2010.
Having declined an option year, Larkin Jr. became a free agent again and began to look for work for the 2011 season. No one signed him, and he sat out the whole season. Finally for the 2012 season, Brussels of the EBA was willing to pay Larkin Jr. nearly $11 million over three years, and so he jumped across the pond to be a starter again. He batted .330 in his first EBA season with the Eagles, making the All-Star team and winning the European Cup! 2013 wasn't as great. He was relegated to backup status, struggled to hit .291, and his once well above average defense had become downright embarrassing. The season over, Larkin Jr. returned to his Boise farm for some off-season soul searching. Little did he know it would end up like this.
It'll be an uphill climb for Larkin Jr. to rehabilitate himself. Playing is clearly out of the question, but perhaps a career in coaching could entice him after some time off? We'll have to wait and see.
Would have made for an interesting situation since we didn't have the DH then.