SIUC hurler Jason Frasor has had a start to his junior season that he would rather forget.

The story of the SIUC pitching staff has been a tale of injuries, wild pitches and an inability to throw strikes. And inning after inning, Frasor has had to sit on the bench and wait, knowing he could help if only he was physically able.

It has been difficult to deal with because everyone has been getting hurt it seems, Frasor said. A lot of the pitchers are getting hurt. It just feels like there is nothing you can do. You can’t go out there and injure yourself more. It is just tough to see you lose and you can’t do anything about it.

Advertisement

The Saluki ace righthander has been through a long road of recovery this season. He has experienced a strained elbow that has plagued him since the summer. Until the spring trip last week, he had not thrown an inning this season.

The most difficult part has not been the physical training, or the visits to the training room. But it has been the feeling of helplessness that comes from not being able to be on the mound.

It’s tough, Frasor said. I’ve never really been hurt before. We’ve been struggling, so there is a little urgency on my part to get back and contribute positively.

Frasor’s recovery has included logging more than a few hours in the training room working on relieving some of the tension in his elbow.

I pretty much have made some good friends in the trainer’s office in the arena, Frasor said. I’m taking it slow because I have been training for the conference season. I have been trying to strengthen it (his elbow) up. That has been the whole recovery trying to strengthen it up.

Through it all, head coach Dan Callahan has been pleased with Frasor’s work ethic in trying to get ready to go back to the mound.

He’s done everything he has been asked to do from getting treatment to rest to working on a throwing schedule, Callahan said. The throwing schedule included long toss, short toss and what we call short box, which is a bullpen workout from a shorter distance.

Advertisement*

He’s got bullpen work in, and he has thrown to hitters here in batting practice, which is something that we typically don’t do. We structured some things differently just for him. Hopefully, we can still see some progress.

The hard work has paid off because now Frasor has three and two-thirds innings under his belt in three outings during the spring trip. Frasor allowed only three hits and a walk while striking out four and allowing no runs.

I felt really good, Frasor said. I didn’t have any discomfort or anything. I didn’t throw any breaking balls. I pretty much went through the spring trip throwing all fastballs.

The plan is for him to start the seven-inning-game against Creighton University Saturday. Frasor said he feels ready, but he is concerned about his velocity and the fact that he has not thrown many off-speed pitches.

Right now his velocity is around 88 to 89 mph, and he normally throws in the 92 to 93 mph range. Frasor’s plan right now is to get his off-speed stuff back while he works to increase his velocity and try to keep throwing as many innings as he can.

If I stay where I am right now without a curveball, I’ll get killed, Frasor said. But if I have a curveball and my change-up comes around, then I’ll be all right. I expect my velocity to come up a little bit more.

The Salukis battle Creighton University in their Missouri Valley Conference opener Friday through Sunday at Abe Martin Field.