Starter’s shoulder injury strains bullpen

Thursday, March 27, 2008

All season it was thought that Kansas had an ace in the hole in Andy Marks. That illusion came to an anticlimactic end Wednesday night.

After Wednesday’s doubleheader, Kansas coach Ritch Price confirmed that he was shutting down Marks for the season and the junior left-hander would take a redshirt. Marks had been undergoing physical therapy to return to the Kansas rotation after having surgery to repair a tear in the labrum of his throwing shoulder.

Photo Gallery

Kansas Baseball vs. Benedictine College

A photo gallery of the Kansas baseball game against Benedictine College Wednesday evening.

“Him and I talked in Florida,” Price said. “He wasn’t ready to throw his bullpens in Florida and I talked with his dad Monday and we made the decision that he’s going to redshirt. He’s not ready to contribute at this point in time.”

Marks, who suffered his injury during the summer started throwing again in January and the hope was to have him back in the rotation by April 1. He threw his first bullpen on Feb. 16 and progressed steadily until recently.

The now-certain absence of Marks from the Kansas rotation hurts on two levels.

For one, until Wednesday, the Jayhawks were comforted with the knowledge that Marks would eventually return this season and be back to form in time for the stretch run through the Big 12 and conference tournament.

The Kansas pitching staff is deeper than it has been in years, but it’s not as top-heavy as a successful Big 12 staff needs to be.

“It’s still a pretty solid staff, but with him I think our pitching staff would have been top five in the conference, easy, just because he’s that good,” junior first baseman Preston Land said.

For another, Marks has developed into a motivational presence in the Kansas dugout. Even on his off days the last two seasons, he was one of the most animated players in the dugout. While Marks will no doubt continue to be an enthusiastic presence at home for Kansas, he will be missed on the road. Price said Marks wouldn’t travel with the team for road conference series.

“He’s a valuable part of our team,” Price said. “Now he’s got to become that guy who can’t help you on the field, but can help you in the dugout.”

With this season out of the question, Marks must now wait until next season to build upon a strong sophomore campaign.

In 2007, Marks led Kansas with 91 strikeouts, 15 starts and 89.2 innings pitched and he tied for fifth in the Big 12 in strikeouts. He struck out a career high 10 batters against Oklahoma State and, against Kansas State, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, surrendering only one hit in seven shutout innings.

Marks came into his own as the season wore on, recording a 3.28 ERA during his final six starts. His development continued into the summer with the Duluth Huskies where he pitched a no-hitter. But before the summer season ended, Marks began experiencing pain in his throwing shoulder and discovered the tear in his labrum.

Price said Marks would have an MRI today to make sure there was no structural damage, but Price ruled out the possibility of Marks coming back this season. Price’s only hope was that a clean MRI would psychologically allow Marks to take the next step to recovery.

“Our goal now is to send him back out in July, back up to Duluth, put him on a pitch count, pitch him every fifth day so he can get some work the last six weeks of the summer, and then come back in the fall and be completely 100 percent,” Price said.

Price is also taking into consideration Marks’ future in case he’s drafted in June’s MLB Amateur Draft.

“We want what’s best for him and for him to get that opportunity that he so richly deserves, but he’s got to get healthy,” Price said. “We’re not going to jeopardize his health at this point in time by pushing him.”

Marks was unavailable for comment.

—Edited by Madeline Hyden

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