Speeney’s return a Tommy John surgery success story

Last in a series of four articles.
Jameson Taillon and the Pittsburgh Pirates have 6.5 million reasons to get the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2010 healthy and strong after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April.
Taillon received a $6.5 million deal from the Pirates and was expected to join the staff by this point in the 2014 season until he was shut down in the spring, eventually leading to surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament.
Millions of wages are lost by teams due to Tommy John surgery, and future earnings of injured pitchers are usually affected by the injury. Some estimates have the cost of wages lost due to UCL damage approaching one quarter of a billion dollars.
Estimates range about 25 percent of all pitchers in the major leagues have had the surgery at least once. The success rate for those who have undergone the surgery is remarkable with nearly 98 percent pitching professionally and around 83 percent pitching in the majors again.
Anthony Speeney had a much simpler reason for undergoing the surgery when he did.
“I wanted to be back for my senior year,” explained Speeney, a 2011 Geibel Catholic graduate. “I didn’t want to miss my whole senior year. It meant a lot to me. I loved preparing in the off-season, to get ready for something. I love the competition.”
Mary Jane Speeney had her concerns as well, but appreciated the importance baseball held in her son’s life.
“He wanted to come back for his senior year in baseball,” said Speeney’s mother. “It killed me when he couldn’t play. I’d do anything to get him back playing.”
Anyone returning from a serious injury has doubts. Speeney was no exception.
“I was apprehensive. I had to take it easy, but then they said it was full go. I was concerned. It happened before,” explained Speeney. “I think it’s stronger. The ligament is stronger, so it’s less likely to happen again.
“People tended to watch me and be more careful. My right shoulder still bothers me. It’s probably from just trying to compensate (for the elbow issues).”
Speeney did return for his senior season with his Geibel teammates and played another two seasons of American Legion baseball. He even played club baseball during his freshman year at Pitt.
Although he loved playing baseball along with his teammates, Speeney also enjoyed having his maternal grandfather George Kosisko Jr. in the stands watching. His grandfather passed away in 2009 and the desire to play much baseball after high school then waned.
“Looking back, baseball bonded me and my grandfather,” said Speeney.
With his baseball playing days likely behind him, Speeney expects he will keep active in other athletic endeavors.
“I’d love to run a marathon someday,” said Speeney, a four-time all-county performer in cross country. “I’d love to coach one day.”
Speeney looked back on his decision to have surgery and the rigorous follow-up rehab when he did with no regrets.
“I’m a big picture person. It was either quit or go for it,” said Speeney.