Young mends once again

The former Scrapper is back in Niles while his shoulder heals.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES -- Simon Young has proven that he can come back from injury. Now, he must do it one more time.
After being drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1999, the 6-foot-4, left-handed pitcher was sidelined for 14 months with a finger injury.
Young responded the following year with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, going 7-2 with a New York-Penn League best 1.75 ERA.
"I didn't even know if I would play again," said Young, 24, a native of Flowery Branch, Ga., who pitched at Georgia Tech.
First comeback
After wearing a brace on the middle finger of his left hand for seven months, which healed an injured tendon, and rehabbing for another seven months, Young was ready to go to work.
"It was above and beyond anything that I imagined," Young said of his first year with the Scrappers, who finished as league runner-up in 2000. "It kind of spoiled me.
"Each level after [Mahoning Valley], it's higher on the ladder but not necessarily the same atmosphere," Young said. "The people here are great. The facilities are great. I had a blast."
Young just didn't plan on returning to Mahoning Valley. Shoulder surgery forced him to.
"I'm here to build up some innings, get some arm strength back and hopefully head up the ladder," Young said.
Wear and tear
Young underwent surgery on his left shoulder on Jan. 25 after, what he described as, years of wear and tear on the joint.
"I was getting ready for this season, for spring training, and I just couldn't get over the hump," he said. "It [the pain] was excruciating."
At the least, Young would have begun this season at Class A-Low Columbus (Ga.).
Last year, he made 13 starts at Class A-High Kinston (N.C.), going 3-5 with a 6.75 ERA. He ended the year with seven starts at Columbus, with an 0-2 record and 3.89 ERA.
"It's a process," Young said. "You have to pace yourself and realize you can't take this stuff for granted."
Getting better
Since the surgery, Young's shoulder has felt strong. He spent time rehabbing in regular and extended spring training before rejoining the Scrappers.
"It feels incredible. It feels better than it has in years, but there's just no velocity [on my pitches] yet," Young said.
Each time out, Young tries to accumulate another inning. He is scheduled to throw five innings during a workout Saturday.
"I'm making improvements each time out as far as stamina and velocity," he said.
"I've gone middle 70s to low to mid 80s, so I'm working my way back."
Young is unsure how the Scrappers will use him throughout the season.
He will spend his time on making a complete recovery.
"Nobody wants to be in this situation, but it's worked out for the best," Young said. "My shoulder feels great.
"Worse case scenario: I don't ever get my velocity back and I can play catch with my kids [someday], and it won't bother me."
richesson@vindy.com