On the last day of the fall baseball season in 2022, Theo Hughes (’24) thought he’d never again be able to play the sport he loved.
"I tore my ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), which is what holds your elbow together,” he says. “I underwent Tommy John surgery in December with the hopes that one day I would be able to pitch again.”
UCL reconstruction is more commonly known as Tommy John surgery after a Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who tore his UCL in 1974. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it’s one of the most severe injuries a pitcher can sustain.
Hughes began playing high school baseball in Seward, Neb. before earning a starting role at Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU). He transitioned into a supporting role after the injury and rehab process. “Coming out of the bullpen was something that was new to me in college,” he says.
The recovery process can take up to 18 months. But at 14 months post-surgery, the right-hander says he was ready to be back on the diamond. “I picked up my first career save against Grinnell College. Having the opportunity to come in and close was awesome.”
Hughes says the biggest key to recovery was staying active, rehabbing and being with the team. “I'm one of the leaders, and I tried to do as much as I could to stay involved and keep guys motivated.”
He says he worked to balance his recovery and baseball with his studies in order to earn his degree on time. “I had great relationships with professors. They were flexible and helped me meet my goals throughout this process.”
Hughes graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a minor in accounting. He plans to earn a Master of Business Administration at NWU while playing baseball, with the goal of reclaiming a starting role in one of his last years of eligibility.
“I’ve learned not to take anything for granted. Your baseball career or anything can end like that. It’s important to have a positive mindset every single day and just attack it.”
His goal after baseball is to join his family’s business in Seward upon his father’s retirement.