Tarnished Gold – Ace Needs Elbow Surgery
Coming out of the University of Miami, pitcher Scott Golden was destined for stardom. A once in a generation talent with no league to play in, the CBA came along at the perfect time for Golden, and Golden came along at the perfect time for the CBA. Now a devastating injury leaves fans across the country holding their breaths.
Golden burst on to the scene in 2023, his rookie season, posting a 4.5 WAR, winning Rookie of the Year, and leading the Motors to their first championship. The youngster struggled a bit in his sophomore season but his 8.6 K/9 showed he still had his stuff. The Motors completed their back to back championships and pundits and fans across the CBA were ready to see what year 3 had for this bonafide superstar. Then Golden took the mound on April 23.
Detroit was riding a 13 game win streak (maybe an ominous sign) and Golden had a 5-0 lead in the 6th inning against the Midwest Plainsmen. Golden allowed back to back singles to start the inning and then a 3 run home run to Billy Wetz. Something seemed wrong, his velocity was down. A sharp ground out followed by another single brought Motors trainers and coaches to the mound. That would be it for Golden’s night. The Motors went on to win and give their ace his third win of the season but we later learned it wasn’t just his night that was over, it was his season. An MRI showed the worst fear, ulnar collateral reconstruction surgery, or as baseball fans know it, Tommy John Surgery, named after the pitcher from the Los Angeles Dodgers who was the first to have the surgery in 1974.
We spoke to Motors GM and Manager Joey Brumme and he had this to say about the injury to Golden: “All of us here in the Detroit front office were devastated when we received word of Scott’s injury. Our thoughts immediately went to him and his long-term health. You never want to see a young man suffer that sort of injury, and its even more disappointing when its someone with as much talent and strength of character as Scott. That said, it is that same strength of character that will enable Scott to overcome this obstacle. I know he’s even more disappointed than we are, but he is already talking about what he has to do to get back on the field. We have no doubt he will come back 100%, maybe even stronger than he was to begin. As for our team, we will certainly miss his presence at the top of our rotation and his leadership in the clubhouse. He has, after all, been our ace since the moment he stepped onto the field his rookie season. However, we did not win two championships because of him alone. It took the efforts of 24 other guys. Those same 24 guys will just have to work a little harder this time around. Of course we also have to find a 25th player for the roster. That may prove the more difficult task.”
Golden’s timetable to return to the mound is 11-12 months according to Motors team doctors. The big question however, will he ever be the same? It’s too early to say but fans in Detroit and baseball fans around the world are hoping for the best. Golden is still young, he’s weeks away from his 25th birthday, so his recovery should be easier than someone towards the end of their career. If anyone will come back from this stronger than ever it’s Golden. The kid works as hard as any player in the CBA and he will definitely give his all in his rehab.
Now we wait. The Motors have won 17 of their first 20 in their bid for a three-peat but their ace is down. The face CBA fans see on commercials across the country and on Cinemark theater screens around the world is down but not out. We all eagerly await his comeback. Best of luck, Scott.
