GLENDALE, Ariz. — Right-hander Prelander Berroa “felt sad” when he found out Tommy John surgery would be necessary to restore his throwing elbow. White Sox general manager Chris Getz and manager Will Venable felt his pain, and also the sting of losing a power arm who figured to play a significant role in the bullpen.
“But I know, that with God’s grace I will come back next year and be able to do my job,” Berroa said.
Such it is with so many pitchers, with the reconstructive surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament that sidelines pitchers for a year or more. On the plus side, pitchers come back renewed, sometimes better than ever.
“Yes, it helps having guys here around you who have been through that process before,” Berroa said Monday through a translator. “I’ve been asking questions about how it is, what is the process and they have been telling me it is a little hard at the beginning but it gets better and better. But for the most part it feels good when you begin to throw again because it feels like you have a new arm.”
Berroa will meet with Dr. Keith Meister in a week or two, he said, to determine a time for surgery. On Friday, the Sox announced that Berroa and pitching prospect Juan Carela would need Tommy John surgery. Left-handed pitching prospect Ky Bush had it done shortly after camp opened.
Berroa walked off the mound with training staff during the Sox’ Cactus League opener against the Cubs Feb. xx. Berroa said it was the first time he felt pain like that in the elbow.
“I have never experienced something like that,” he said. “Unfortunately, it happened that day.”
Hair today, gone tomorrow
Left-hander Fraser Ellard’s long locks are gone, but the rosin-bag slam remains.
Ellard, who was married in November, prefers his current buzz cut but kept his longer hair at the urging of his new bride.
“I hated messing with it because it fell on my face during the game, but she said you have to keep it for the wedding,” Ellard said. “So a few days after the honeymoon I buzzed it all off.”
A mild-mannered sort, Ellard spikes the rosin bag on the pitcher’s mound before throwing his first pitch.
“I started that my fifth year at Liberty College to lock me in,” Ellard said. “Just be ready to attack and get after it. I’m a pretty quiet, chill guy and it’s almost like a series of adrenaline jumps for me. You get your name called, you start your process and when I do my warmups on the mound it goes from ‘I’m ready to now I’m ready to attack,’ a mind shift to be aggressive.”
Ellard, 27, an eighth-round Sox draft choice in 2021, posted a 3.75 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 25 appearances last season, his first in the majors. He is scheduled to pitch Monday against the Athletics in Mesa.
Chase likes new Sox
The cramping in his calves that sidelined infielder Chase Meidroth is nothing new. The same thing happened to him in spring training with the Red Sox last year.
“I think it’s a once in a year thing,” Meidroth said. “Probably a little dehydrated. Next few days I’ll be back.”
Meidroth, who came in the Garrett Crochet trade, has good things to say about his first White Sox camp.
“Coaches are awesome, teammates are great,” said Meidroth, who is trying to win a job in the infield. “It’s been good here. I’m having fun.
“They really dive into your strengths and what you’re good at. For everyone. Hitting coaches, fielding coaches, everyone I’ve worked with, they take what you’re good at and build on it, and improve your weaknesses.”