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Yankees: In the Blink Of An Eye, A Fledging Career Is In Jeopardy

By Steve Contursi

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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For the Yankees as well as anyone who attaches themselves to the game of baseball, the news about Keprielian’s need for a second season-ending surgery is enough to send chills up and down your spine. But beyond the game, the human element of this young man’s fortune supersedes everything………

The Yankees former second-baseman, Gil McDougald, once came to bat against the Cleveland Indians Rookie of the Year pitcher, Herb Score, in a meaningless game during the 1957 season. McDougald hit a line drive that smashed into Score’s left eye and skull. Score never recovered from the injury, despite hanging on a for a few unsuccessful comeback years.

Similarly, Tony Conigliaro was primed to become the next Boston superstar, a local product from East Boston and Swampscott who by the age of 22 had already hit 104 big-league home runs for the Red Sox.

And then, on one fateful night in August 1967, Conigliaro ran into a pitch thrown by Jack Hamilton. The pitch damaged the retina in his left eye, cracked Conigliaro’s left cheekbone, and dislocated his jaw.

But behind the veneer of stardom, recognition, and for some, Hollywood-like lives is the reality that these men are just as frail and susceptible to life’s pitfalls as you and I

Conigliaro was out of baseball by the time he reached 30, unable to see out of his left eye.

And more recently, New York Mets reserve infielder, Wilmer Flores, was seen in full view of millions watching on television, crying heartfelt tears from his position at shortstop having just received the news that he has been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Later, Flores would learn that the deal had fallen through and he was still with the team he had signed with as a teenager.

In Just The Blink Of An Eye

These are stories from the human side of baseball that, perhaps, we don’t don’t think often enough about. We see these players as robots on the field who are being paid a gazillion dollars to do what many of us would give and arm and a leg to only have a chance at doing.

Video Courtesy of the YES Network

But behind the veneer of stardom, recognition, and for some, Hollywood-like lives is the reality that these men are just as frail and susceptible to life’s pitfalls as you and I. And in that light, James Kaprielian is “feelin’ it” right now.

And for those of you who have been following the baseball odyssey of Kaprielian on Yanks Go Yard, you may recall that it was only a month ago that I wrote a story about him being like a racehorse biting at the bit and wanting the Yankees to move him along more quickly in his rehab and recovery from Tommy John surgery.

And you’ll probably also recall that the Yankees took a middle of the road approach, perhaps reluctantly, allowing him to pitch in games during Spring Training, but with a well-defined leash on him at the same time.

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And now, all that is left is for the team and Kaprielian himself to wonder – what happened here?

Because this is life threatening regarding Kaprielian’s baseball future. Coming back from one Tommy John is difficult enough. And I don’t have the exact numbers, but I know I read it somewhere that it’s a 50-50 chance for a full recovery.

Throw in a second surgery and the loss of another full season of never touching a baseball and the odds must increase exponentially against being able to throw a baseball with the same effectiveness as before the injury.

Zack Wheeler is trying to do it right now with the Mets and so far, so good. But there’s always that uncertainty that comes with every pitch he throws it won’t be that one pitch that thrusts him backward.

“Life” Intercedes On Us All

Just to understand what Kaprielian has gone through in life outside of baseball bears witness to the impact of his most recent setback within his baseball life and what he will be dealing with as he tries to put the pieces back together following the upcoming surgery.

Here’s what he said about pitching following the death of his Mom, Barbara, when he had just come off being named to play for Team USA’s Collegiate National Team in 2014 after earning All-Pac-12 honors and leading the conference in strikeouts:

"“That day, when I came off the mound, the whole team came up to me because they knew what I was going through and they knew that day was hard for me,” Kaprielian said. “I felt relieved that I was able to go out there and help our team. That one was for my mom. I felt like she was out there with me on every pitch.”"

This is a kid with a heart that is in the right place. And apparently, he wears his feeling on his sleeve, which in this day and age is something to be admired.

But he’s also a kid whose one dream in life is now in jeopardy because all he ever wanted to do in life was stand on the mound at Yankee Stadium and pitch for the New York Yankees.

We’ve all had that dream, but the difference is that James Kaprielian was oh so close to doing it.

So Close, And Yet So Far Away

Where it goes from here, of course, is anyone’s guess. Dr. Andrews will do what he does, and the Yankees will prescribe a rehab program following the surgery. Youth is still on Kaprielian’s side at the age of only 23, but rehab is not fun. It’s hard work, often without a baseball in your hand.

It’s tedious and often tenuous. Kaprielian has shown the grit and determination that is necessary to make it to this level, albeit perhaps at his own peril.

But it’s the human element and spirit that we don’t often take the time to recognize as about these players who perform for us that matters now. Here today and gone tomorrow is not a good baseball story. But, it happens.

Yankees fans can only hope that Kaprielian will summon the courage and determination he exhibited so forcefully only a few weeks ago that will be required of him (plus a little luck) to make that start at Yankee Stadium sometime in September (or thereabouts) of the 2018 season.

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