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Article published Apr 15, 2009 Looking to rebound Pair of Padres' top prospects are back from injuries
Fort Wayne TinCaps fans might recognize two names on this season's roster - left-handed starting pitcher Nick Schmidt and shortstop Drew Cumberland.
Both were first-round picks of the TinCaps' Major League Baseball affiliate San Diego Padres in the 2007 draft. Schmidt was the organization's first selection (23rd overall) out of the University of Arkansas, and Cumberland was a supplemental pick (46th) out of Pace High School in Florida.
Both are ranked by Baseball America as two of the Padres' top 30 prospects in the minor-league system. Cumberland, who played 53 games in Fort Wayne last season, is ranked 15th. Schmidt, who pitched in three games in 2007, is ranked 21st.
They also have something else in common: overcoming injuries that have beset their development.
Schmidt, 23, appeared in three games for Fort Wayne in July 2007 - a month after getting drafted - before suffering an injury to his pitching elbow.
“It was my last outing (his first start) and I just couldn't get loose,” said the 6-foot-5, 243-pound player. “Then my arm started burning when I pitched, and I went into the dugout and told the trainer something wasn't right with me. Next thing I know, I'm on a flight to San Diego.”
Schmidt, who was Arkansas' No. 1 starter for three years and left the school as the all-time strikeout leader (345), tried to rehabilitate the elbow for about six weeks but got nowhere. He had reconstructive surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament, also known as Tommy John surgery, on Oct. 2, 2007.
The ligament works like a rubber band that holds the upper and lower arm bones together and keeps the elbow stable. Sometimes it stretches too far, tears or pulls off the bones.
It was five months after the procedure before Schmidt could even throw a baseball. During that time, he rehabilitated by working on range of motion and strengthening. Schmidt began the pitching process in April. Six months later, he was pitching in instructional league and then at the Padres' Dominican Republic camp.
“It's awesome to be back,” Schmidt said. “I still don't feel like my stuff is as good as it was before. But I think that's just part of being out of it for so long. I have to get back into the swing of things. It's usually two full years until you're back to normal.”
Cumberland's setbacks weren't as severe but more nagging. He took a fastball to the ribs in May 2008 that left him sore for a while and he missed a few games. He pulled a rib muscle in the sore area by nearly swinging himself out of his shoes in a June 25 game.
He was sent to extended spring training in Arizona for rehabilitation.
“I've got to learn when to do things and when not to do them and keep myself on the field,” said the 20-year-old.
Those words especially rang true after he suffered another injury.
His ribs were finally healed, but Cumberland dislocated a finger sliding head first into home plate in his third game of instructional ball. Season over.
“That's one of the things I can prevent doing is crazy plays like that,” he said. “Staying healthy is the main thing for me.”