Elbow Injury Sidelines Goeddel

By Adam Foster
February 23, 2007

Erik Goeddel, a top 50 high school pitching prospect in this year's draft, will miss four to six weeks after suffering a partial tear of the collateral ligament in his right elbow.

The injury kept Goeddel, a senior righthander from San Jose's Bellarmine Prep, from facing off against friend and fellow prospect Kyle Blair and Los Gatos (Calif.) High in the season openers for both teams.

Bellarmine Prep coach Gary Cunningham said Goeddel experienced "tightness in his elbow in the bullpen during a warmup session," in early February. Goeddel was unable to pitch in the highly anticipated showdown that drew well over 50 scouts. He had an MRI, and will miss at least a month.

"We found out he has a partial tear of the collateral ligament, but those often can heal," Erik's father, David Goeddel said. "From talking with doctors, it is not serious enough now to say that he needs to have Tommy John (surgery). We want to see if rehab and rest will let it heal . . . If it doesn't, maybe we will look into other options."

Meanwhile, Blair struck out four batters in four hitless innings, and even got Goeddel, who was in the Bellarmine lineup as DH, propelling Los Gatos to a 1-0 win.