Melotakis had Tommy John surgery

[Seth Stohs]

According to the Pioneer Press's Mike Berardino, LH RP prospect Mason Melotakis underwent Tommy John surgery last week. 

 

The hard-throwing lefty had a solid year in 2014. He had started the majority of the 2013 season. He made 2 starts in 2014 before moving to the bullpen in Ft. Myers. He moved up to New Britain where he pitched well. However, elbow pain put him on the disabled list once. He returned for a few games. He was supposed to pitch in the Arizona Fall League, but when he reported to Ft. Myers, the elbow pain was still there. Zack Jones took his spot in Arizona.

 

Melotakis rehabbed in Ft. Myers but they quickly decided to have the surgery. He will likely miss all of 2015, though he could return in a rehab stint late. 

[James Richter]

Bummer. Maybe he can do the AFL next year.

[Seth Stohs]

Bummer. Maybe he can do the AFL next year.

 

That would be great if he could!

[Dman]

Seems like so many guys have to go through this now.  I guess I'm glad he made the quick decision.  Hopefully he is ready to compete in 2016.  I wish him well during this tough time in his career.

[stringer bell]

He was my adopt-a-prospect and I met him in Cedar Rapids in 2013.  Seems like a nice young man.  I thought he could make a big move next year, if healthy, but maybe it'll be 2016 or more likely 2017.  Good luck Mason.

[Mike Sixel]

Bummer. Good luck sir. Get well.

[Seth Stohs]

He was my adopt-a-prospect and I met him in Cedar Rapids in 2013.  Seems like a nice young man.  I thought he could make a big move next year, if healthy, but maybe it'll be 2016 or more likely 2017.  Good luck Mason.

 

I agree with this. I think he took a nice step this year. I think he would have stayed in the bullpen, and he has the stuff and velocity to be Perkins-like. Now, we just wait until 2016. 

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120521082419/meme/images/1/12/Table_Flip.jpg

 

Ok - I'm done overreacting about pitchers getting offseason surgery, but I just needed to get that out.

 

What was Melotakis' projected MLB debut date prior to the surgery? Getting the surgery right away might mean that it won't move all that much - maybe it would go from mid-season to a September call up in 2016? or early to mid 2017? 

[Paul Pleiss]

Melotakis to have TJ surgery... and hopefully returns to be successful.

 

Or

 

Melotakis to have TJ surgery and never to be heard from again.

 

FML.

[the_youngster]

A very disappointing development. I really like Melotakis as a prospect. A future Bullpen that could include Melotakis, Z. Jones, T. Jones, Burdi, Reed, Chargois (since it appears he's a prospect again), Peterson, etc. would have be about as hypothetically dominant as possible. I wish him the best and a speedy recovery.

[DocBauer]

A very disappointing development. I really like Melotakis as a prospect. A future Bullpen that could include Melotakis, Z. Jones, T. Jones, Burdi, Reed, Chargois (since it appears he's a prospect again), Peterson, etc. would have be about as hypothetically dominant as possible. I wish him the best and a speedy recovery.

This!

 

I thought he had a real chance of joining the Twins by mid-season. Based on talent, what he accomplished at AA last year, if he had remained healthy and pitched in the AFL, he could have been up sooner. Possibly even have broken camp. Massive bummer.

 

Here's hoping for a speedy and quality recovery for the young man.

[bird]

Have other organizations lost as many very promising prospects to TJ? It sure feels like we've had very bad luck in that regard:

 

1. Melotakis, ranked as high as #9 (LaVelle)

2. Chargois, ranked as high as #13

3. Luke Bard, once ranked #11 by one service

4.Fernando Romero, ranked as high as #18

5. Randy Rosario, top 25 by some

6. Corey Williams, top 25 a couple years back

7. Alex Wimmers, same thing

8. Kyle Gibson, back in action.

 

Who am I missing? Doesn't this seem like a lot of high-ceiling prospects to lose to TJ? 

[USAFChief]

I'm too lazy to look it up, but there was a thread here recently citing some study showing the Twins with the most TJS's of any team over the past ?2? years.

 

IIRC though, the numbers were close enough that it would be hard to draw firm conclusions.

[JB_Iowa]

I'm too lazy to look it up, but there was a thread here recently citing some study showing the Twins with the most TJS's of any team over the past ?2? years.

 

IIRC though, the numbers were close enough that it would be hard to draw firm conclusions.

 

It was like 13 with the next one being 12.  Not a very significant difference,

[twinscowboysbulls]

Now 14