Various places, including ESPN and over at Bronx Baseball Daily, have articles on Pineda. In short, it comes down to how hard Pineda works on his rehab. Yes, it could negatively affect his career, but if Pineda goes about things the right way, he can come back and be good. Maybe. It depends on sticking to a regimented rehab plan, and of course, that plan is for the whole body—none of this twenty pounds overweight crap.
If he does that, Pineda could be more fit than ever before and get that shoulder back to where it should be. But he has to work HARD at it. His rehab is just that—HIS rehab. As Curt Schilling (who had the surgery and came back throwing harder) puts it: I would tell you that it is 25 percent about the surgery and 75 percent about the rehab. Schilling’s doctor said that it is about not being lazy and sticking to the rehab meticulously.
Even if he sticks to the rehab religiously, there is no guarantee that Pineda will be what he was before. But the only to get back is to do exactly what Schilling and his doctor state: Work hard at rehab. No slacking. Bust your tail. No “days off.” Only then will we know if the Yanks get back the Pineda they traded for.
Someone in the organization will be with Pineda during his rehab virtually 24/7. They’ll be “joined at the hip.”
…and I hope that person is a stern taskmaster!