Chase Lambert has begun the toughest challenge of his young baseball career. Rather than staring down a 90 mile per hour fastball or an 82 mph slider on his scout team this summer, Lambert will rest his right arm as it recovers from “Tommy John” surgery performed last week at the Kerlan-Jobe orthopedic clinic in Los Angeles.
After receiving the news from a doctor in May that an MRI revealed he had suffered a slight tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, the standout on the Malibu High baseball team underwent two hours of surgery to repair the injury. He now faces the arduous task of rehabilitation in his efforts to hopefully play his senior season next spring while still pursuing his dreams of playing college baseball.
“I feel relieved, honestly. Everyone was asking, ‘When are you going to get it done?’” said Lambert, whose right arm rests in a sling. “It’s my first big step to getting back and being on the field again.”
Lambert, 17, led Malibu to a school-record 24 wins in 2013 and its first league title since 2005. The hard-hitting shortstop was named the Most Valuable Player of the Frontier League after hitting a team-best .454 batting average with 44 hits, 31 runs, 19 RBIs and 13 doubles.
On the mound, Lambert served as the team’s closer, going 3-0 with a 0.79 era, eight saves, 50 strikeouts, eight walks and allowed only eight hits in 26 2/3 innings pitched.
The Sharks finished 24-5 on the season after advancing to the second round of the CIF Division VI playoffs.
Things were going along smoothly for Lambert until April 26, when Malibu battled league-foe Santa Paula. In 1 1/3 of an inning, Lambert struck out three but felt a pop after he walked a batter.
“It didn’t feel good. I knew something wasn’t right,” explained Lambert, who throws in the high 80s and is considered a Division One college prospect. “When I found out what it was, I was so bummed, obviously. But I had to accept it and move forward.”
After visiting a doctor and undergoing an MRI to determine the significance of the injury, Lambert was shut down as a pitcher and shortstop so as not to risk further injury to his throwing arm. He continued to play for MHS as the team’s designated hitter for the final five games of the season, however, as well as the playoffs.
“I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t expect it to happen to him,” said teammate Noah Simon. “Knowing Chase, he will come back. He has a great work ethic. Instead of looking at the negative side, he’s looking at the positive.”
Surgery was performed on July 3 and a realistic timetable for this type of injury can range from six to 12 months to return to competition. Full rehabilitation takes six months for position players and close to a year for pitchers.
The delicate surgery requires a tendon from another part of the body to replace the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. The procedure is named after former Major League pitcher Tommy John, who in 1974 was the first player to undergo the surgery from highly renowned Doctor Frank Jobe.
In recent years, MLB pitchers such as Stephen Strasburg, Chris Carpenter, Chad Billingsley, Joba Chamberlain and A.J. Burnett have undergone the elbow-ligament transplant operation, as have position players such as Rick Ankiel and Kyle Blanks.
“He means a whole lot to our program. A lot of the players look up to him. We need to keep the same approach to practice as if Chase was there. We need to rely on each other,” said Simon, the Frontier League pitcher of the year. “He needs to take as long as he needs for rehab so when he comes back he’s 100 percent. I will be there to help him through rehab and be next to him for anything.”
Lambert is hopeful to return for his senior year and pursue a college scholarship in the process. Rather than worry if he will ever pitch again or simply hit and play the infield, the focus now is rest and on his health.
“It will be a tough road back. It’s a big deal,” said Lambert with a positive attitude. “But I will be back.”
Never doubt the heart of a champion.