Nothing about Zach Elmer's statistics for the 2007 season indicated that he would rise up this year to become arguably Ohio's best pitcher.
Then again, being a year removed from arm surgery might be improving his fortunes in 2008.
The junior left-hander leads the Ohio starters with a 2.66 ERA and holds a 3-2 mark in nine starts, compared with a 5.19 ERA in no starts last year. He will take the mound Saturday during Ohio's three-game Mid-American Conference series at Kent State this weekend.
Less than 18 months ago, Elmer was on a surgeon's table having an operation performed on his shoulder. He said that the difference in his arm between this season and last is right in the numbers.
I didn't have a fall (in 2006)
Elmer said. I didn't have a lot of time to prepare so last year was a rough year for me.
Unsurprisingly then, one of the major factors in Elmer's improvement was that he was able to train during this off-season. He played for the Lima Locos in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League before intense weight lifting and more baseball in the fall and winter.
This year I was able to throw in the bullpen every day
Elmer said. There's just been stuff that I didn't do last year.Elmer's improved arm strength and performance over the season has made him a more prominent figure in the Bobcat rotation. He, along with today's starter, Chris Rigo, is the most consistent weekend, conference series starter.
Despite Elmer's elevation through the ranks, Ohio coach Joe Carbone said he and his staff were as patient as they could be bringing Elmer back from surgery.
You can't catch a pitcher back up
he said. It takes time and rehab and how they feel. You just can't rush it.
Although Carbone said he's had faith in Elmer from the beginning, he added that there's always a degree of uncertainty when bringing a player back from an injury.
You never know about anybody
he said. He's always had a good arm. He's always had the ability.
Another thing to consider when returning from some time off is the mental aspect of pitching, Carbone said.
They think the arm's going to fall off
he said.
As he continues to find success, Elmer said that his confidence is also growing. But there are still some things that he acknowledged he could work on, such as limiting his pitch count.
I'm not going as deep into games as I'd like to
said Elmer, who has 13 less innings of work than Rigo despite the same number of starts. The seventh
eighth
ninth. I want to be able to get into those innings.
