Should JT start shifting to be a full time position player?...

[maroonmania]

My understanding was he was a very good position player and hitter in HS. It just doesn't look like his arm is going to be durable enough to be a full time pitcher at this point.

 

[My Bru]

My understanding was he was a very good position player and hitter in HS. It just doesn't look like his arm is going to be durable enough to be a full time pitcher at this point.

No. His arm is what was drafted.

You all act like his arm is gone. It's not. He will get drafted again.

 

[maroonmania]

No. His arm is what was drafted.

You all act like his arm is gone. It's not. He will get drafted again.

Maybe I'm wrong but I remember hearing he only pitched 37 innings in HS. Perhaps that was just his SR year but that is not a lot.

 

[Go Budaw]

My understanding was he was a very good position player and hitter in HS. It just doesn't look like his arm is going to be durable enough to be a full time pitcher at this point.

Depends on what the actual problem is, if / when he has surgery, and what the recovery outlook and timing is. But I’d say it’s not likely he’ll be able to hit this year if he has Tommy John. The recovery is 6 months for that even for position players. And whatever the problem is, it’s likely he’ll want the procedure to be done ASAP.

 

[Len2003]

No. His arm is what was drafted.

You all act like his arm is gone. It's not. He will get drafted again.

His arm seems like it's been gone for awhile now. It was MIA last summer and for the most part of the fall.

 

[maroonmania]

Depends on what the actual problem is, if / when he has surgery, and what the recovery outlook and timing is. But I’d say it’s not likely he’ll be able to hit this year if he has Tommy John. The recovery is 6 months for that even for position players. And whatever the problem is, it’s likely he’ll want the procedure to be done ASAP.

No doubt if he has to have surgery everything is off the table. But if it is just this stuff about arm soreness and arm inflammation and such, with no real structural damage, but continually reoccurring, it seems like the position player option would be something to strongly consider. Like I said, from what I know, he was a great SS and hitter in HS, so its not like he would be trying to do something he is not capable of doing at a very, very high level.

 

[maroonmania]

His arm seems like it's been gone for awhile now. It was MIA last summer and for the most part of the fall.

Seems like they are trying to rest him and rest him some more hoping everything will come back full strength and its not happening.

 

[Go Budaw]

No doubt if he has to have surgery everything is off the table. But if it is just this stuff about arm soreness and arm inflammation and such, with no real structural damage, but continually reoccurring, it seems like the position player option would be something to strongly consider. Like I said, from what I know, he was a great SS and hitter in HS, so its not like he would be trying to do something he is not capable of doing at a very, very high level.

To me, it’s pretty hard to believe whatever it is will not require surgery at this point. If it really is TJ as many have suggested, I’d wonder why he didn’t go ahead and knockout the surgery last June. He’d already be deep into his rehab at this point and may even be able to throw live bullpen sessions before this year’s draft.

 

[thekimmer]

I'd use him as a PH but not a position player.

 

[DoggieDaddy13]

I really hate if for him. He was good recruit for us and wanted to be a Bulldog. I hope he can recover both for the team and for his future prospects.

 

[basedawg]

He’s going to have surgery.

 

[Misfit]

So, based on your having heard he was a great high school ss, you would have him quit pitching and play him in place of one of the two best players on our team who has a better chance than any other position player on our team of playing in the major leagues. You should stick to football.

 

[Todd4State]

Maybe I'm wrong but I remember hearing he only pitched 37 innings in HS. Perhaps that was just his SR year but that is not a lot.

Yeah. I think Brandon used him as a reliever/opener his senior year.

 

[maroonmania]

So, based on your having heard he was a great high school ss, you would have him quit pitching and play him in place of one of the two best players on our team who has a better chance than any other position player on our team of playing in the major leagues. You should stick to football.

Extrapolate much? I said play him as a position player, and said NOTHING about specifically playing him as our SS at MSU. I''m sure he could competently play several positions but I do believe he was a SS at Brandon. Basically an option to consider if his arm is not going to be able to handle the season long strain of pitching. You should maybe stick to other threads.