Robo-Pitcher Indians’ Fitzpatrick Tries Again After Five Years Of Serious Injuries

The Chinese calendar is structured around a dozen animals.

Ken Fitzpatrick’s calendar documents nearly a half-dozen beastly injuries.

The Year of the Torn Knee was 1992.

The Year of the Strained Forearm Muscle was 1993.

The next go-round, 1994, was the Year of the Injured Biceps.

The Year of the Torn Elbow Ligament was 1995.

Because of the severity of 1995, 1996 was the Year of No Pitching.

Which leads to 1997, Fitzpatrick’s Year of … ?

“This is my sixth year now (since being drafted), and I have to prove some things to somebody,” Fitzpatrick said Saturday after the Spokane Indians wrapped up their second day of minicamp.

Few pro players would relish playing in the Northwest League, a short-season Class A league, after four seasons and 61 games in the minors.

Fitzpatrick is just relieved that the Kansas City Royals, Spokane’s parent club, still care about him.

“If they’re willing to spend the money for your surgeries, they must see something in you,” Fitzpatrick said.

There’s a lot of Fitzpatrick to see. At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, he’s one of the few people in camp who can look Tribe pitching coach Steve Crawford (6-5, 225 during his playing days with Boston and Kansas City) squarely in the eye.

Crawford can attest to the pain a big body takes on the mound. He’s had five surgeries, three on his knees and two on his elbows.

Crawford is cautious when assessing Fitzpatrick’s chance of returning full strength from reconstructive surgery. Fitzpatrick underwent the ‘Tommy John’ surgery practiced by Frank Jobe, the team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Jobe removed a ligament from Fitzpatrick’s left forearm to repair the elbow.

One benefit of the surgery, oddly enough, is increased speed. Fitzpatrick can reach 91 mph with the fastball, his favored pitch.

“He had the velocity in (extended spring training), but no movement,” Crawford said. “Once he gets the movement, he’ll be out there again quickly.”

Fitzpatrick pitched well during four seasons at Fort Myers (Fla.) of the Gulf Coast Rookie League and Rockford (Ill.) and Springfield (Ill.) of the Class A Midwest League.

One night in July ‘95, after seven strong innings for Springfield, Fitzpatrick woke up and couldn’t bend his elbow. The surgery occurred in February ‘96, and Fitzpatrick couldn’t throw for 14 months.

“But it’s starting to feel better every day,” said Fitzpatrick, just the second player drafted out of Bell Gardens (Calif.) High.

Once Fitzpatrick is game-ready, the Royals apparently plan to use him in Spokane for 3-4 weeks before promoting him.

The Indians’ 4-hour minicamp sessions continue today and Monday, both starting at 9:30 a.m.

Spokane opens a five-game home set Tuesday against Salem-Keizer. Tickets for Tuesday’s opener are still available.

Camp notes

Crawford announced that left-hander Jordy Alexander will be the opening-night starter. Alexander, of Burnaby, British Columbia, was drafted last year but pitched for the Tri-City Posse of the independent Western League. Righty Todd Meady, 2-5 with a 3.39 ERA for Fort Myers last year, will start Wednesday’s game… . Righty Justin Pedersen of Minnesota arrived in camp, boosting the roster to 32. The lone roster no-show, righty George Kauffman, may face reconstructive surgery on his elbow. Kauffman is the grandson of late Royals owners Ewing and Muriel Kauffman… Kansas City’s coordinator of minor league instruction, Jimmy Johnson, offered pointers for the second day… . The Indians will retire uniform No. 42 on opening night in honor of the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson’s first season in the majors. Vernon Baker of St. Maries, Idaho, the lone African-American to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for World War II, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch… . First-week promotions are: Tuesday, TCI Cable magnet schedule giveaway; Wednesday, NAPA Autocare Olympics; Thursday, The Blues Brothers; Friday, kids opening day; Saturday, bingo night.

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