Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Minor League Openers

Feb 16, 2014; Lake Buena Vistas, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher

(37) stretches during warm ups at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Former Braves teammates know all about Tommy John revision surgeries

JERRY CRASNICK, ESPN.COM SR. WRITER

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The second go-around was more painful — both physically and emotionally. A year ago March, Medlen felt a stabbing sensation in his elbow while throwing a changeup to Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson in the Grapefruit League. Medlen knew something was wrong, but he bit his lip, dug a thumb into his forearm to keep the pain to himself, and threw two more pitches out of pure exasperation before calling it a day. Before the athletic trainer even reached the mound for a look, he bolted for the dugout with tears in his eyes and his head spinning with doomsday scenarios.

“Everything was good,” Medlen said. “Curveball felt good. Changeup felt good. Guys were off-balance, and I was getting them out. Then I throw that changeup, and it’s like a knife was stabbing me. I guess I was in denial. So I threw two more pitches and the knife just twisted and twisted again. It was excruciating.

“I’m thinking, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ You fight your entire career to establish yourself and get a rotation spot. I was coming off a solid year and everything was coming together. And then it happens again. I’m like, ‘I can’t believe this is happening to me.'”

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[ Ed. note:  lots more at the link above – I recommend the entire piece to you ]