Brandon Claussen Claussen is the pitching prospect the Reds picked up from the Yankees in the Aaron Boone trade. His story is quite an interesting one that I thought you might enjoy reading.
On a Fixed Wing and a Prayer (Cincy Post)
In the summer of 2002, Claussen blew out a ligament in his left elbow. On June 25, he underwent Tommy John ligament replacement surgery. Dr. James Andrews took a ligament from his right hamstring and put it in his left elbow. He was only 2-8 at the time for AAA Columbus, but had a 3.28 ERA.
"I was angry," Claussen said. "Why would you let me get so close and then pull me back? But looking back on it now, it really made me realize how much you can take advantage of a good thing. A year ago today, there were thoughts in my head that, seriously, I might never play again."
Normal recovery time for that procedure is at least 12 months, but Claussen was back on the mound at the Yankees' minor-league complex in Tampa by spring time.
"I was like 'You know what, God healed my arm and I'm ready to go,' " he said. "If you want me to go out there and pitch, by all means I'm going to go out there and pitch. If something happens -- good, bad or indifferent -- it does, and we'll go from there."
Good story.
1:58:12 PM 
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