Keahi Rawlins nursing injury to pitching elbow

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Sophomore righthander Keahi Rawlins suffered an injury to his pitching elbow and will be sidelined for at least a month, according to University of Hawai'i baseball coach Mike Trapasso.

Rawlins said he injured his arm while pitching for the Anchorage Bucs in the Alaska Summer League. He said the injury occurred when he began throwing non-stop for a week after two weeks of not throwing at all.

"I guess with the throwing and throwing, I slightly tore my medial collateral ligament, which is what they do Tommy John surgery on," Rawlins said. "I should be back in December throwing again and hopefully ready by the season."

Rawlins, who is from Kaunakakai, Moloka'i, is one of Trapasso's prized in-state recruits. He pitched in 16 games last season, including 11 starts. He finished 5-5 with a 4.27 ERA in 65¡ innings. The 6-foot-3, 257-pounder allowed 55 hits and 34 walks and struck out 45.

Rawlins said if his arm still hurts in December, he'll have it re-evaluated by doctors. Rawlins said surgery is a possibility if his arm doesn't heal.

"The doctor said it's not severe enough to do surgery," Rawlins said. "But it's also not strong enough to throw because it's really loose right now. I have to do exercises with my wrist and forearm and strengthen it."

Trapasso said he'll take a wait-and-see approach with Rawlins once he starts testing his arm in December.

"We're crossing our fingers he'll be fine when he starts throwing again in another month," Trapasso said. "There was a significant injury as far as the severity of the soreness. We're hoping he'll be OK."

Hawai'i begins its 2004 season against the Alumni on Jan. 24. UH starts regular-season play with a three-game series against Texas on Jan. 30.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2458.