Shawn Carlson's first reaction was denial.
After all, his career was on the rise. Could this really have happened?
"I thought it was nothing," he said. "I didn't want to think about what it was. I was in denial. I didn't want to accept it. But I just couldn't throw the ball."
A year ago, Carlson was coming off stellar seasons for Andover High and Andover Legion, and was heading for the same college that produced Red Sox legend Roger Clemens.
But now, Carlson is looking to rebuild his career after undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction — better known as Tommy John surgery — in the spring.
"It's been tough," said Carlson. "But it is something I have to go through. I hated it. But now I have to work my way back."
With a scorching low-90s fastball, Carson was dominant for Andover High. As a junior in 2008, Carlson was 4-2 with a 3.43 ERA and 42 strikeouts.
He crushed those numbers as a senior, going a perfect 6-0 with a whopping 60 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings pitched and a 1.13 ERA. He was named team co-MVP and was an All-Merrimack Valley Conference pick.
In the winter before his senior season, Carlson committed to pitch for San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas. The college's tremendous baseball success includes producing both Clemens and longtime New York Yankees lefthander Andy Pettitte.
Carlson hit the ground running at San Jacinto, impressing during the fall league.
"I did pretty well," he said. "I'd come in an throw hard for three innings. I had to get used to the hot weather, which was still in the 90s. And every batter was so good, you had to attack them."
That success continued into the spring season. In his first three outings, Carlson allowed just two hit and no runs in 7 1/3 innings, earning his first college win.
But during his third outing, trouble struck.
"We were playing a team from Illinois," he said. "I was in my third inning, with two outs. I had thrown two pitches to the batter, and on the third I just felt a pop in my elbow.
"I didn't know what it was. I walked around the mound and decided to stay in the game. I ended up striking out the batter, and I don't know how."
Carlson iced his elbow, and tried to continue with the season.
"I though it was a forearm injury," he said. "I didn't think I needed Tommy John. But I was talking to a teammate who had Tommy John surgery, and he said the pain was the same as what I was having. I was mad."
An x-ran and MRI showed the damage. He had suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament.
Carlson's father then made him an appointment with well-know orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who has treated high-profile athletes in various sports such as football stars Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Brett Favre. He performed Tommy John surgery on the likes of former major league stars John Smoltz and David Wells, who continued on to stellar careers.
Carlson underwent surgery in Alabama, where Andrews is based, in May, He then spent the rest of the season in the dugout with his arm first in a sling, then with a brace.
"I hated it," he said. "It was so boring. I had a torn UCL, and I just wanted to go out and throw."
Carlson now faces a long road to recovery. He is currently rehabing in Woburn and hopes to begin throwing lightly in about a month.
"It's going to be weird," he said. "I haven't picked up a ball in so long. I'm going to be nervous. I'm probably going to have to redshirt next (college) season and begin pitching again next summer."
But when he is finally cleared to throw again, he is optimistic he could even be better than ever.
"I know a lot of pitchers have gone through it and come back," he said. "Since I had surgery with Dr. Andrews, it's good seeing a lot of pitchers who were throwing harder than before. They continue pitching a while. It's not as scary as it could have been."
• • •
Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to andovertownsman.com.
