3rd in the Frick Frontier
4 GB of the Calgary Pioneers BOBBY LYNCH SHUT DOWN WITH RUPTURED UCL
"This is going to be tough."
Those were the words of Ernie Lara, manager of the third-place Edmonton Jackrabbits, as he answered questions at a notably Bobby Lynch (4 - 1, 4.04 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 45 K)-less press conference addressing the injury status of the team's young ace. The conference was a heartbreaker for loyal fans, who discovered that Lynch would miss the rest of the 2035 season with a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament.
The fateful injury occurred in an afternoon game in Las Vegas earlier this week. It was an exciting contest; the Rabbits tied the game at four in the top of the ninth, and veteran catcher Elroy Hinson walked it off with a homer for the Hustlers. But the disappointment of a walk-off defeat was hardly the focus, as the team was still distracted from events earlier in the ballgame.
In the top of the third, Lynch served up a 1-1 pitch to Lloyd Braun. The second it left his hand, there was trouble. The pitch floated in at an alarmingly slow rate, right down the middle, and Braun deposited it squarely into the stands. Meanwhile, Lynch crumpled on the mound in clear pain, while Lara and team trainer Jim Stewart raced to the center of the diamond, where the Jacks infield was already crowding around their pitcher.
"It's not uncommon or unheard of, but it is serious," said Stewart at the conference. "Bobby's got a lot of rehabilitation to do, a lot of PT...this isn't Tommy John, yet, but it's going to take a lot of time."
Stewart placed the timetable for Lynch's recovery at 13 months minimum.
"What we're probably going to see here is that Bobby's going to resume a throwing program sometime next summer," he explained. "There's bound to be some setbacks along the way, and that's just part of the recovery process. If everything goes well, we're looking at potentially next September for him to come back and rejoin the team again."
Lynch has not yet been reached for comment. At just 23 years old, the injury could be eating a lot more of his prime than it will, but Lynch will still find himself missing the better part of two consecutive seasons -- a tough blow to the career of a guy who led the league with 258 strikeouts in his age-22 season.
Rabbits Rally Around
"We're not gonna lie down," said starter Chet Parrish (2 - 2, 5.40 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 34 K) this weekend.
After sweeping the Boise Spuds, Edmonton lost three straight to the Las Vegas Hustlers while also losing their ace. After splitting the first two games with San Fernando, it's possible the Jackrabbits could drop consecutive series.
"A lot of people are gonna think that this is the turning point, this is where we give up the ghost," continued Parrish. "But nobody here is quitting. We're gonna pick each other up and pick up right where we've left off."
The Rabbits are two games under .500, but find themselves just 3.5 back of division rival Seattle, who hold a Wild Card spot. With sets against last-place San Antonio and Omaha on deck, Edmonton has a chance to quickly reclaim a winning record should they perform well next week.
Terry Rumored to "Replace" Lynch
No corresponding move has been made to replace Lynch's roster spot after the lefty was placed on the 60-day disabled list, but the most likely candidate for a call-up is 20-year-old right-hander Derrek Terry) of the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
A second-round pick three seasons ago, Terry was an All-Star at Double-A Saskatchewan last year, and has a 4.87 ERA in nine starts so far this season. Armed with three above-average pitches and a change-up in process, Terry is the best pitching prospect in Edmonton's system behind the currently-sidelined Jean Huguet), who may get a major-league look of his own after inflammation in his shoulder decreases.
