OSHKOSH, Wis. — University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titians pitcher LJ Waco loves baseball. That’s why he was devastated that his days of playing the game could have been over.
Waco tore a ligament in his elbow late into the season last year. Thanks to surgery and hard work, he was back on the mound this year.
“The whole goal was ready in eight months. Usually, UCL’s take 12 to 14. So, we rushed the process just a little bit, but my arm felt good kind of the whole way through,” said Waco. “I was lucky enough that I have an athletic trainer to do it. And having my family, having all my friends and all that support really helped me.”
Waco said it shows in his stats: 71 strikeouts in the 54 innings that he pitched. He said he attributes his success this year to his pitching velocity and control of the ball.
“I’d say I’ve got a pretty solid secondary pitch that I can get strikeouts with and kind of throw the fastball where I want in the zone executives in attack in a good way,” he said. “And then I can throw that off the pitch to get that strikeout or groundout kind of whatever we need in the situation.”
The Illinois native said he decided on Oshkosh because he wanted to play for UWO baseball head coach Kevin Thomasiewicz.
Waco was originally recruited as a shortstop. After Waco kept having injuries, coach Thomasiewicz decided to make him a pitcher.
Thomasiewicz said he made the change because he knew Waco could succeed in that new role.
“His work ethic has been unmatched when it comes to an injury,” said Thomasiewicz. “I’ve never seen anybody do the rehab and the short, intense amount of time that he did and accredited himself, he was able to come back and be one of the best pitchers again in the region and in the country.”
Waco has finished his degree in exercise and sports science. Waco said he hopes to become a strength coach and is working to get his coaching certificate this year.
He said he is proud of how far he has come during this time with the team.
“It feels awesome. I wouldn’t want to have it any other way,” said Waco. “I love moments like this. I kind of feel like I can thrive in situations like this. It means everything. This is going to be my last time pitching and it’s really, really exciting.”