It was supposed to be the most important season of Matt Whitehouse's college career at UC Irvine, but in trying to return from a knee injury he overworked himself, causing tendonitis in his rotator cuff and thus washing out his entire junior campaign. Wisely, the left-hander used his time away from the mound to reset his path, focusing on becoming stronger both physically and mentally.
"I had never been injured like that before, so it was tough being away," said Whitehouse. "It made me have a whole new respect for the game."
Whitehouse worked tirelessly to get back to form, strengthening his shoulder, doing leg work to improve the knee and being there for his teammates in an effort to help out younger players while keeping himself as close to the action as possible.
By the start of the 2013 season, he was itching to get back to work and made 16 appearances (14 starts) for the Anteaters as a red-shirt junior, posting a 5-6 record with more than eight strikeouts per nine innings.
"The injury helped a lot mentally," said Whitehouse. "It made me stronger and made me work the right way."
He also worked hard toward obtaining a degree in Sociology (with a minor in Education), and all of that work paid off on Draft day when the Cleveland Indians made him their 19th-round selection (No. 561 overall).
"It was a bit stressful sitting and watching with family," said Whitehouse. "I went and hung out with some buddies who were home from school. Overall, it was a great experience and an exciting moment in my life."
The perseverance and diligence that pushed him through his injured season has carried over to pro ball, and with the help Scrappers' pitching coach Scott Erickson, he has made a small tweak in his delivery that is already paying dividends.
"[Erickson] pointed out that I was leaving a drag mark on my follow-through," said Whitehouse. "It was like an anchor that slows the lower half. Now we're not using a drag, and I'm able to explode through the pitch with my hips.
"He's been an unbelievable teacher," Whitehouse added of the 1991 American League All-Star.
With a renewed outlook on spotting his fastball instead of trying to power it by, Whitehouse has been able to work well with his cutter while developing an off-speed offering that he didn't use much in the past.
The results through his first 17 innings as a professional -- 0.53 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, .161 opponent batting average, 14/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio -- stand as solid evidence that he is physically capable.
And his mental toughness has been put to the test as well during the Scrappers' recent run of 12 straight losses, a franchise record.
"I almost forgot what winning felt like," Whitehouse joked. "It was bad. Halfway through, we were trying to change things up -- guys were lighting bats on fire in the parking lot; we switched uniforms. None of it really worked."
The Scrappers were able to snap their slide July 15 against Vermont, and the final box score showed the winning pitcher was Whitehouse.
It was the first "W" of his young career.
"I had never been injured like that before, so it was tough being away," said Whitehouse. "It made me have a whole new respect for the game."
Whitehouse worked tirelessly to get back to form, strengthening his shoulder, doing leg work to improve the knee and being there for his teammates in an effort to help out younger players while keeping himself as close to the action as possible.
By the start of the 2013 season, he was itching to get back to work and made 16 appearances (14 starts) for the Anteaters as a red-shirt junior, posting a 5-6 record with more than eight strikeouts per nine innings.
"The injury helped a lot mentally," said Whitehouse. "It made me stronger and made me work the right way."
He also worked hard toward obtaining a degree in Sociology (with a minor in Education), and all of that work paid off on Draft day when the Cleveland Indians made him their 19th-round selection (No. 561 overall).
"It was a bit stressful sitting and watching with family," said Whitehouse. "I went and hung out with some buddies who were home from school. Overall, it was a great experience and an exciting moment in my life."
The perseverance and diligence that pushed him through his injured season has carried over to pro ball, and with the help Scrappers' pitching coach Scott Erickson, he has made a small tweak in his delivery that is already paying dividends.
"[Erickson] pointed out that I was leaving a drag mark on my follow-through," said Whitehouse. "It was like an anchor that slows the lower half. Now we're not using a drag, and I'm able to explode through the pitch with my hips.
"He's been an unbelievable teacher," Whitehouse added of the 1991 American League All-Star.
With a renewed outlook on spotting his fastball instead of trying to power it by, Whitehouse has been able to work well with his cutter while developing an off-speed offering that he didn't use much in the past.
The results through his first 17 innings as a professional -- 0.53 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, .161 opponent batting average, 14/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio -- stand as solid evidence that he is physically capable.
And his mental toughness has been put to the test as well during the Scrappers' recent run of 12 straight losses, a franchise record.
"I almost forgot what winning felt like," Whitehouse joked. "It was bad. Halfway through, we were trying to change things up -- guys were lighting bats on fire in the parking lot; we switched uniforms. None of it really worked."
The Scrappers were able to snap their slide July 15 against Vermont, and the final box score showed the winning pitcher was Whitehouse.
It was the first "W" of his young career.
Source: Craig Forde, milb.com