The Amherst native and Detroit Tigers minor league left-hander Kevin Ziomek had shoulder surgery on Monday for thoracic outlet syndrome.
Ziomek tweeted on Wednesday “Thanks to everyone checking in on me after surgery! Excited to be on the road to recovery.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, thoracic outlet syndrome “is a group of disorders that occur when the blood vessels or nerves in the space between your collarbone and your first rib (thoracic outlet) become compressed. This can cause pain in your shoulders and neck and numbness in your fingers.”
Several major league pitchers have undergone surgery to correct this condition, including St. Louis Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia and Kansas City starter Chris Young.
Garcia had surgery in July 2014 and returned in May 2015.
Young had surgery in 2013, was the American League Comeback Player of the Year with Seattle in 2014 and won a World Series ring pitching in relief for the Royals last year.
Via text message, Ziomek said the surgery went “smoothly.”
“Doc says everything looks good and I’m responding well,” he added.
Ziomek said he did not have a timetable for when he can return to throwing.
The 24-year-old opened spring training in the Tigers major league camp. On April 2 he was assigned to Double-A Erie, but he started the season on the disabled list.
Ziomek came off the DL and on May 18 was assigned to the High-A Lakeland Flying Tigers.
Ziomek made his season debut on May 20th against Charlotte. He started and lasted 4 innings, throwing 76 pitches, 43 for strikes. He struck out one, walked one and allowed five earned runs on nine hits, including one homer.
On May 23rd Ziomek was placed on the seven-day DL.