By Michael Bower
On-line Forty-Niner

Senior Matt Paz was not even born when Dodger pitcher Tommy John underwent surgery to fix his damaged elbow ligament in 1974 - but it would affect his life.
 
Dr. Frank Jobe’s only option was to transplant a tendon from John’s forearm to his elbow - the first time the operation had been tried on a professional athlete. John’s positive results would save the careers of many professional athletes down the road and it would give Paz another chance on the mound for the Dirtbags in 2003.
 
Paz, 23, came to Cal State Long Beach as a freshman in 1999 and continued to improve each year. He went 18-15 in his first three seasons with a 4.77 earned run average. He threw over 230 innings, striking out 142 and his 40 starts ranks fourth all-time at CSULB.
 
Just as things seemed on the rise for Paz an elbow ligament in his right arm slowly became damaged and eventually would keep him from throwing in 2002.

“Some [pitchers] have it where it happens on just one pitch but mine wasn’t like that,” Paz said.
 
Paz underwent Tommy John surgery on his right arm in the fall of 2001 and was forced to red shirt for the Dirtbags in the 2002 season.
 
“It was devastating,” Paz said. “All the guys I came up with I didn’t get to finish with.”
 
Paz did a lot of shoulder exercises during physical therapy to regain his strength. He worked out three hours a day three times a week.
 
The hard work paid off when Paz finally found himself back on the mound for his first start in over a year on Feb. 2 against Arizona State. Paz said he was on a pitch count that day as he threw 29 pitches - 19 were strikes.
 
He recorded his first win in over a year on Feb. 16 against Washington State. Paz came out of the bullpen to pitch two and two-thirds innings giving up two hits.
 
“It was great to be out there and competing again,” Paz said. “Every time I go out there I have a lot of fun.”
 
Paz and pitching coach Troy Buckley agree that he hasn’t regained the amount of strength in his arm yet to be able to recover as quickly as he could before.
 
“I still have a little ways to go,” Paz said. “My recovery rate isn’t that good. I go out and pitch and the next day it will hurt.”
 
“I think he has gained a few things and lost a few things…what he hasn’t regained is the ability to bounce back,” Buckley said.
 
Buckley talked about the role that Paz will play for the Dirtbags this year.
 
“I think we got some options,” Buckley said. “What he brings to the table is a tremendous amount of experience and competitiveness.”
 
Paz said he would do anything to help the team get to Omaha. The Dirtbags are currently ranked fifth in the nation and nothing would be better than a trip to the College World Series for Paz.
 
“That would be something,” Paz said with a smile on his face. “Maybe this is a blessing in disguise.”
 
Paz plans on signing with the Cleveland Indians after the season. The Indians drafted Paz in the 43rd round of the 2002 draft.

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