Carter Keyboom was diagnosed with right arm flexor strain in 2022 spring training and when he started throwing again and felt discomfort, he tore the UCL in his right elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery, and died at the age of 25. someone came out , his first round pick in 2016 and all his 2022 picks.
Speaking to reporters at the end of the ’22 campaign, Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said he hopes the infielders are ready for the start of spring training. corner job in dc
“He’s going to compete for the third base job,” Rizzo explained.
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“I think it’s all about reports that if Tommy John gets surgery, he should be fine for spring training. I’ve seen him down a few times in Florida. I’ve been there a few times and he knows what he has to do in the offseason to get him ready for spring training.”
At the December 1922 Winter Meeting, when the capital’s GM again spoke to reporters, after telling him that the club had signed veteran Jaymer Candelario to play third base, Rizzo said the key boom was I said I would still fight for the job. The best player in the mix wins it.
“Carter is going to fight for third base, the best player will be playing third base, and he will make other arrangements for the other players,” he said.
However, problems around Keyboom’s elbow allowed the Nationals to deepen at third base.
“It helps us in that position, but it also gives us flexibility. Candy can play in a variety of positions but they’re going to compete and Carter is healthy ready for spring training he’s in baseball mode now so where we are Let’s see when it arrives at
“Carter missed a year,” said Knotts manager Davey Martinez in his own press conference at the Winter Meeting.
“I spoke with Carter the other day. He’s been training and hitting. He says he feels really good. He’s coming along.
“We expect him to be ready to go to spring training and he’s going to fight for the third base job.”
Martinez was asked what concerns, if any, he had about Keyboom’s return after TJS.
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“He’ll bounce back,” Skipper said. “What I want him to see is that third base is a different throwing angle, so I want to make sure he gets the rep.
“If he can come back and be ready to do all these things and compete for the third base job, he will.”
The early plan for spring training was to have Kieboom start as a DH this spring before returning to competition. The club decided to take a cautious approach.
“We just want to give him an at-bat,” Martinez said. In the words of MASN’s Bobby Blanco Early this month.
“We’re going to take this thing a little easier with him, so he’ll go to DH, get some at-bats, and get him going.”
“He’s getting closer,” Martinez added. “The biggest thing for him is all the rep, the amount. It’s like building him up and getting him there. Some days he comes and he still hurts a little. But when it comes to hitting, he’s fine, so I’d like to have him at bat, let him out in the game, and then we’d like to do a few different things.
Keyboom returned to the game last week as the designated hitter, deeming it a “big win” after he and the club had been out of action for a long time.
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“Oh, it was definitely a buildup,” Keyboom said. Quoted by Blanco of MASN“But it was great. Admittedly, my first at-bat was nerve-wracking. I was certainly nervous. I think that’s why today was a big win.”
However, while the club was limiting how and how often he could throw, it began to pave the way for him to return to full action on the field.
“My arm is doing well. It’s going pretty well,” says Kieboom. “I think I’ve got a little more time. Just manage how much I throw and build it right. I’m happy with where we are.”
Unfortunately, however, Keyboom suffered a setback last weekend when his right shoulder was strained and the team was forced to shut him down.
“Carter has a bit of a setback. Now it’s his shoulder.” As quoted by MASN, his manager said.
“He’s got some strain on his right shoulder and I think this is part of it because of Tommy John. It’s all about throwing, he said he could hit, but I said to him, “Let’s step back a little bit.” We have time. Please put strength on that shoulder. I’ll be back as soon as the trainer is ready. “
Did something get thrown out while Kieboom was worried about his elbow? Will he get over this too and get right back into the action of the game?
They’re slowing Kieboom’s work again, with plans to give him a shoulder rest a few days before he resumes work if the issue is resolved.
Barring lingering problems, Martinez said he could get key booming plate appearances in minor league games. Bad news for Kieboom again. what’s next?