The cruelty of injuries in baseball struck a blow to baseball fans on Friday with the news that Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jarrod Parker refractured the medial epicondyle in his right elbow, almost a year after he first fractured it in a rehab start.
The 27-year-old Parker has been struck by arm injuries for several years now. After recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, Parker broke the medial epicondyle in his right elbow during a rehab start, which was caught on camera. The arare injury, sidelined him for the season, but Parker was able to slowly make a comeback. Then early this week during a throwing session, he left the mound yelling in pain.
Team doctors first diagnosed with a lateral right elbow impingement, but further tests revealed the refracture. Injuries like this are devastating to here, but even more so for such a young player who has had to deal with so many significant arm injuries. The Athletics will now sit down with Parker and help plan out his future.