Joel Zumaya considering retirement, career as fisherman, after latest arm injury
Joel Zumaya says he’s considering retirement after suffering his latest injury. Zumaya signed with the Twins in January, but he tore the UCL in his right elbow during a bullpen session Saturday. He missed all of last season after getting major surgery on an elbow injury so brutal we thought it could be career-threatening. Looks like we were right.
Zumaya is considering Tommy John surgery, but there’s no guarantee he will attempt a comeback. In fact, he’s already considering other options.
“I know I’m young, but I’m going to probably be going on six surgeries if I get another one,” he said. “I’m only 27 years old and I’ve taken a lot of wear and tear on my body, especially my arm, and then rehab — it’s a lot out of you. So I have a little two-and-a-half-year-old; maybe it’s time to move on. I’m a pretty dang good fisherman, so I might pursue professional fishing.”
Zumaya will discuss matters with his family before deciding his future. We’ve ragged him for hurting himself while playing Guitar Hero and for doing keg stands while rehabbing, but it’s hard not to feel badly for the guy. He hasn’t thrown more than 40 innings in a season since his debut in 2006.
