Pitcher throws through the pain of an abnormal elbow

He is a lefty with a strong arm. Yet there is so much more to him than just being an extraordinary baseball player. What especially separates him from the rest of the team is  the extra bone in his left elbow.

Many times an extra bone means that a player won’t be able to play because of the pain and bothersome effects, but not for this baseball player. Senior Anthony Jimenez has been playing baseball since he was a little boy, starting with T-Ball, and does not plan on stopping now.

He first experienced pain December of his sophomore year and was sent to Sacramento to see a sports physician. They told him it was just a dead arm, a common symptom of pitchers who have pain and soreness because of the lack of rest. Jimenez agreed until he began to experience more pain over the past two years, so he went to get checked once more. And on Feb. 14, he learned that he indeed had an extra bone in his elbow.

So the next step was figuring out how to fix this problem. His doctor offered him three options.

The first was going to physical therapy for a few months and keep playing baseball. The second was getting a shot with dye to figure out the seriousness of his elbow. The third was going to Stanford, and/or Los Angeles, to get surgery which would require him to sit out for the rest of the year.

He chose to get physical therapy because he couldn’t imagine his life without baseball.

“I remember running around, not knowing what I was doing, just having fun.”

Eventually after  years of constantly playing baseball that fun turned into passion and love for the game.

Although Jimenez has this rare condition, it does not stop him from doing anything less than his best.

“Anthony still plays with full intensity and effort at every practice,” Jesse Basilio, a teammate said. Jimenez also plans on going to college with baseball. He has recently been speaking with Delta Community College, East Bay State University, and Fresno State University. He has the talent to play at a higher level, that is why he is constantly talking to counselors to get their advice on ways to get into colleges.

“Every year kids want to play at the next level.” varsity baseball coach Tony Angelo said. “Truth is very few of them have the dedication, and talent, to do so but Anthony does.”

He has good velocity and the capacity to strike out various players.

Aside from his talents and dreams, this is Jimenez’ first year playing for Stagg’s varsity baseball team, after transferring from Franklin. He is currently playing at scrimmages, and practice because he is a transfer student but, is told to be the starting pitcher for the game on april second vs Franklin here at Stagg. However, this doesn’t stop him from connecting with his team and getting their support. “Jimenez is quickly becoming one of the leaders on the team,” Angelo said. “He is encouraging, and never lacks to hustle.”