Linton Follows Own Course Back From Serious Surgery

The Tommy John surgery--transplanting a healthy ligament or tendon from one wrist to the other arm or elbow to replace a damaged tendon or ligament has extended quite a few pro baseball careers.

Doug Linton, a right-hander with the Orioles’ triple-A team in Rochester (N.Y.), would like a similar success story.

On the surface, Linton’s record of 6-4 with a 3.83 earned-run average in 16 starts is fine. Look specifically at the month of July, however, to understand how well he is doing.

Linton went 5-0 with a 1.71 ERA in six starts last month. In 42 innings he gave up 34 hits and eight earned runs, walking six and striking out 39. He was twice named the International League Pitcher of the Week.

“Now I can’t tell my elbow was ever hurt,” Linton said. “It feels like it keeps getting stronger. Now I can throw the ball where I want to and not miss by much.”

There was no similar euphoria nearly three years ago.

Linton, 34, who has spent parts of three major league seasons with Toronto, Anaheim and Kansas City and was up briefly with Baltimore early this season, appeared to be done after a ligament detached from his right elbow “from normal pitching wear and tear” at the end of the 1996 season.

The injury was devastating. The Santa Ana native, who graduated from Canyon High and attended UC Irvine, had had a decent year for the Royals, going 7-9 with a 5.02 ERA in 18 starts.

It didn’t help that Kansas City released Linton after the 1996 season and he had to file a grievance through the players’ union to get the Royals to pay for the surgery, where a ligament from his left wrist was used to repair the injury.

Linton underwent the surgery in the spring of 1997 and sat out the season while rehabilitating on his own. Linton said he may have accelerated his recovery because he was following his own program and not one designed by a team’s doctor or trainer.

“I went with what the [surgeon] said, but I did not have a specific throwing schedule,” Linton said. “If it felt good I would test it further. I had no one pulling the reins on me.

“I was pitching in Puerto Rico just seven months after the surgery; usually it’s a year.”

This was not the first time Linton, who was drafted by Toronto in 1986, sustained a serious injury. In 1987, he had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He missed most of the 1988 season while recovering.

“Before the shoulder surgery, me and [1996 Cy Young Award winner] Pat Hentgen were linked to being in Toronto rotation by 1990,” Linton said. “But that’s when I learned to get over the fear of throwing again. So when I hurt the elbow two years ago, I knew there would be some bumps in the road but it was something I could [recover from].”

Linton’s return was delayed further when his youngest son Austin, 3, was diagnosed with leukemia and underwent chemotherapy. The disease has since gone into remission.

The New York Yankees signed Linton in 1998 but released him at the end of spring training. The Minnesota Twins signed him to a minor league contract. He was 4-4 with a 5.99 ERA in 14 starts for the triple-A Salt Lake Buzz.

But it was while pitching in winter ball in Puerto Rico that Linton felt sure his elbow had healed.

“I led the Puerto Rican league in strikeouts, was second in innings pitched and in the top 10 in ERA,” Linton said. “That helped me get a job with Orioles.”

Linton hoped the Orioles might call him up again after they traded Juan Guzman to Cincinnati July 31. But Baltimore took Ricky Bones out of the bullpen and put him in the starting rotation.

No matter, Linton said he and his “new” arm can wait.

“I have one-year deal, so there will be some decisions to make after the season,” Linton said. “But I am still on their 40-man roster. Everyone wants to pitch in big leagues and I feel I will. If not now, hopefully soon.”

FEELING BETTER

Nick Punto’s left knee injury was not as severe as Linton’s elbow injury. The Clearwater (Fla.) Phillies’ shortstop was activated from the disabled list on Thursday after being out two weeks.

This is good news because Punto, 21, is showing promise with the Class-A Florida State League team. In 88 games he is batting .300 with a homer and 36 RBIs. He is fourth on the team in runs scored (57), and his .408 on-base percentage is eighth in the league.

When he graduated from Trabuco Hills High in 1996, Punto was better known for playing basketball. But the 5-9, 170-pound Punto knew his athletic future was on the diamond.

“I steadily got better in baseball when I went to Saddleback College,” Punto said.

“I never had any doubts I could play; confidence is everything. I won’t say I don’t have to prove myself. but I think if you come out and play hard every day, no mater how big or strong you are, you can prove your worth.”

Punto said the Phillies want him to further his development by playing winter ball. That’s fine with him. Since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on the knee, Punto said he is moving more freely than he has in a couple of years.

“Now I’m running faster than ever. And that includes high school,” Punto said.