July 26, 2020 was a extremely anticipated day for Texas Rangers followers. Prized offseason acquisition Corey Kluber was making his debut in Rangers powder blue, which signified the start of a three-headed monster atop the Texas rotation.
Everyone knows the headline story by now. Kluber threw one inning, appeared a bit uncomfortable, and in the end left the sport with what was later identified as a tear within the teres main muscle in his proper shoulder.
Younger Rangers southpaw Joe Palumbo was the primary out of the bullpen to assist choose up the injured Kluber. He retired the primary six batters he confronted so as with 4 strikeouts, which had the makings of a stable return to the large leagues after a rough-but-brief debut in 2019.
The outing was subsequently squashed within the fourth inning. Palumbo confronted 5 hitters, not retiring any of them, and was tagged for 3 earned runs. His velocity dropped and he appeared gassed.
That appears believable. In any case, your entire baseball world needed to cope with a fast ramp up final yr due to the COVID-19 shutdown.
Nonetheless, 15 days later, Palumbo urged his cousin Jeremy Larkin to take him to the hospital.
“If I am saying, ‘Any person take me to the hospital,’ then there’s clearly one thing mistaken as a result of I would not simply come out and [say that]” Palumbo instructed the media by way of Zoom on Saturday. “My signs have been uncontrolled.”
These signs have been from a flare up of ulcerative colitis (UC), an auto-immune illness that impacts over 900,000 Americans. Palumbo was identified with UC in November 2016. It wasn’t till his flare up final yr that his prognosis turned public information — a flare up that stored Palumbo within the hospital for 5 days.
“No one actually ever heard that I’ve ever had UC as a result of I used to be in a remission this complete time,” Palumbo mentioned. “The flare up that I had final yr was the primary time I’ve ever skilled any problems.”
Palumbo began seeing signs near the start of spring coaching final yr. He was capable of handle them and compete in video games all through Cactus League play. All year long, his situations worsened to the purpose the place it turned, in his phrases, “extraordinarily critical.” By the top of September, Palumbo had misplaced loads of weight — from near 200 kilos all the way down to 165.
“My high quality of life was not the most effective,” Palumbo mentioned. “It was nothing with my food plan. It was the remedy that I used to be on. It actually simply failed me. It simply stopped working. And there was nothing I might do to stop it.
“It was actually a disgrace. I imply, I attempted every little thing I might do to play the sport final yr. And I attempted to remain on the sphere for so long as I might. I needed to assist the staff win, and I needed to contribute. Nevertheless it did not end up that approach.”
Palumbo has switched from Lialda, which required 4 capsules each day, to Stelara, which is one injection each eight weeks. He has an ideal assist group with the Rangers, which incorporates membership dieitian Stephanie Fernandes and fellow beginning pitcher Kyle Gibson.
The Rangers weren’t unfamiliar with the illness earlier than Gibson signed a three-year contract in December 2019. Oakland A’s reliever Jake Diekman underwent a colectomy because of his UC whereas with the Rangers in December 2017. Gibson’s reward of Fernandes was a giant purpose of why he signed with the Rangers final winter.
“Gibby and I’ve spoken briefly about it,” Palumbo mentioned. “I feel someday, we’ll sit down and get collectively and focus on some issues extra in depth.”
Palumbo labored very carefully with Fernandes on his food plan and meals choices this winter. He is additionally ramped up his carb consumption and consumes a every day shake that helps him hold the illness at bay. Palumbo is again as much as 185 kilos, which is a weight each he and the Rangers really feel is best for him after flirting with the 200 mark final spring.
“I used to be simply testing the waters with gaining as a lot weight as I might,” Palumbo mentioned “I did really feel a bit bit too massive, although. Prefer it was nearly a bit bit an excessive amount of. I really feel good at 185 kilos. I feel it is a honest weight for me. I can transfer my physique fairly nicely right here, so I am pleased with the place I am at proper now.”
After a yr during which he barely pitched, Palumbo feels wholesome and powerful in camp. He has been capable of undergo his regular offseason routine and has seven bullpens underneath his belt to date.
The Rangers really feel that Palumbo can nonetheless begin within the main leagues. And that is the place Palumbo desires to be.
“Bodily, I really feel nice. My arm feels nice,” Palumbo mentioned. “I am able to roll.”
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Chris Halicke covers the Texas Rangers for InsideTheRangers.com. Comply with him on Twitter @ChrisHalicke.
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