With a promising pitching career put on hold following elbow surgery last season, the endless hours of rehabilitation tested Nathan Wedderburn’s mental fortitude.
Losing a full year to Tommy John surgery as a junior took him off of some college baseball recruiters’ radar, as the right-hander would have to prove himself all over again.
While it has been a small sample size in his return this spring for Monterey, the results were enough for CSU East Bay to make an offer to Wedderburn.
“Of course, you have doubts that you might be done,” Wedderburn said. “But when you put trust into your doctor and he tells you you’ll be able to pitch again, you have something to fight for.”
Building his arm strength back up at a prescribed pace, Wedderburn has been lights out in a handful of starts for the Toreadores this year, posting an 0.58 earned run average.
In 36 innings this year, the 5-foot-10 Wedderburn has struck out 46 hitters, while issuing just eight walks, posting a 2-2 record.
“My rehab was originally scheduled for seven months,” Wedderburn said. “I took an extra two or three months of physical therapy just to build my whole body up. I pushed through it.”
With insurances that he would do no damage to his surgically repaired right elbow, the 18-year-old senior spent the winter playing on Monterey’s State Division IV basketball title team.
“I was still going through PT during basketball,” Wedderburn said. “But I was pretty mobile in my fifth month. I was able to shoot the ball. There were no setbacks playing basketball.”
With his fastball back up at 89 mph, Wedderburn has gradually increased his pitch count during the spring for the Toreadores, are in the CCS play-in game Friday.
“I’m still working my way through it,” Wedderburn said. “I can be throwing much harder. It’s all a part of the journey.”
Wedderburn has been cleared to throw all five of his pitches in his arsenal, with the cutter being his strikeout pitch.
“I started throwing the curveball again with no irritation,” Wedderburn said. “I’m still cautious of what pitches I’m throwing. I’m still aware of my injury and what happened. But everything feels good.”
During his three seasons at Monterey, the senior has struck out 258 hitters in 184 innings, posting a 1.60 earned run average.
“You have to have that confidence to let it go,” Wedderburn said. “There were some nerves in my first outing. After I threw that first pitch, that subsided and I said to myself I can play the game I love.”
Wedderburn put together an MVP type season on the hill in 2022, posting a 1.07 ERA, with 127 strikeouts in 87 innings of work, earning a spot on The Herald’s All-County baseball team.
“East Bay was looking for pitchers for next year,” Wedderburn said. “I want to make an impact right away.”
Wedderburn is the first player in the county to be a part of a state championship basketball team and a CCS baseball title team, hurling the Toreadores to a Division III title in 2022.
