San Diego Padres P Cory Luebke could contribute out of bullpen following recovery from Tommy John surgery
By Jack Crosby
Back early on in the 2012 Major League Baseball season, San Diego Padres pitcher Cory Luebke was injured, the kind of injury that required the infamous Tommy John surgery.
It was a disheartening injury for Luebke personally because he had worked his way up into the starting rotation, where he began in 2011.
In that 2011 season, Luebke posted a 3.23 ERA in 29 innings out of the bullpen before he was thrust into the starting rotation. Once set into the rotation, Luebke threw 100.2 innings where he posted a 3.31 ERA in 17 starts.
The future was bright for the youngster in San Diego before the injury, but now he’s working his way back. Although, according to Corey Brock, he may have to begin the journey all over again as the team has expressed interest in using him out of the bullpen when he returns:
#Padres GM Byrnes said the team will still try to add a bullpen arm or two, maybe a LOOGY. Floated idea of Luebke possibly as he works back.
— Corey Brock (@CoreyBrockMLB) December 28, 2013
Obviously, this is a good idea right off the bat as he tries to battle back, plus GM Josh Byrnes has expressed needing a left reliever out of the ‘pen recently.