Derek Caldwell drew the starting assignment for the Rider University baseball team as it began the finale of a three-game series at the University of Alabama-Birmingham on March 12th.  The southpaw was hoping to salvage a win; the Broncs had dropped the first two games.

The feeling in his pitching arm got gradually worse as the game went on.  “First inning I was throwing 88 (miles per hour),” he said.  “Second inning it was 77.  I kind of knew something was wrong.”

Caldwell lasted 3.1 innings before being pulled, allowing five earned runs and walking six.  “I was pretty scared – I didn’t know what to expect.”

An MRI later revealed his season was over. 

“He tore (the ulnar collateral) ligament in his left elbow,” said Rider head coach Barry Davis, the Metro Atlantic Conference Co-Coach of the Year this season.  “Derek is arguably our No. 1 pitcher.  His loss really hurt, because we lost a quality starter.”

Caldwell’s parents took him to Manhattan for “Tommy John” surgery in April.  The medical procedure was done by a top orthopedist who has worked with the New York Mets.

According to an article posted on ESPN.com, penned by Jennifer Dawkins of drkoop.com, Dr. John Bergfield of the Cleveland Clinic Sports Health describes the surgery named after the former major leaguer who was the first to undergo the surgery in 1974: “Slight modifications have been made, but the principle of the surgery is the same: to repair a ligament that is frayed and torn with an accessory tendon from the arm.”   

The splint and moveable brace are now gone, and he’s rehabbing twice a week, going through simple arm exercises.  He might be able to throw a tennis ball a few feet beginning this winter.  He could miss the start of the 2007 season.

Caldwell is buoyed by the fact that many pitchers improve following the surgery.  Randy Wolf, an all-star starter for the Philadelphia Phillies, is close to joining the rotation after undergoing the procedure last summer.

“I hear good stories about it,” Caldwell said.  “I hear that you can come back stronger, and better.  I’m excited to see what happens.  With the rehab and strengthening stuff that they have you do, that contributes to strengthening your arm.  From what I hear you do gain a lot of velocity.”

Caldwell is in Maryland, serving as a bench coach for the Bethesda Big Train, a collegiate summer team he played for last summer. 

“I can’t get away from baseball,” he said.  “I figured this would be a great opportunity to learn…I have learned a lot already.”

Caldwell started three games for Division I Rider (25-31, 17-10 MAAC) in Lawrenceville, N.J. prior to his injury.  In 13.2 innings, he was 0-2 with a 5.93 earned run average.  He walked 12 and hit four batters.  Opponents batted .291 against the 6-1, 180-pound lefty. 

Caldwell redshirted and has three seasons remaining to reach his goal of receiving a communications degree (concentration in radio/TV).

As a freshman in 2005, he came on strong to end the season, winning his final four starts and being named conference rookie of the week.  Caldwell led the Broncs in innings, and tied for the number of games started (appeared in 14 games, started 11).  He struck out seven batters twice in a game.  His overall numbers: 4-6, 6.37 ERA, 70.3 innings, 42 strikeouts and 26 walks.  Twenty of his Ks caught batters looking, tops on the staff. 

At Salisbury, Caldwell played several different sports.  He was All-Colonial League as a junior outfielder, and his left arm led the Falcons to a district title in 2004.  He earned a place on the All-CL team from the mound as a senior.  He also played golf and basketball.

At the three colleges Davis has coached at, he sent a combined 18 players into professional baseball.  The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim drafted his junior catcher, Scott Knazek, in the 15th round this spring.

Caldwell hopes to pitch at the next level as he helps Davis build the Rider program.

“I would like to get somewhere past college with baseball,” he stated.  “I would love to get drafted.  It’s a long ways away, but that’s always been the dream.  I have been blessed with the left arm.”

Davis is confident that with continued hard work, Caldwell can get drafted.

“They know who he is,” he said.  “He’s left-handed, has a good body and someone they should take a look at.  He is just starting to fill out.  He can be an 89-90 (mph) guy.  He has so much movement on the ball.  He has developed a change up.  He gets a little wild, and walks are his Achilles heel.  He is starting to become a three-pitch guy (fastball, curve and change).  His fastball kind of explodes at the plate.

“Derek is a person who likes to work hard, and he wants to be the best player he can be.  He is a quality young man.”