MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia junior pitcher Conner Dotson underwent successful surgery to repair a broken bone in his pitching arm, coach Randy Mazey announced Wednesday.
Dotson sustained his season-ending injury while warming up in the bullpen before his scheduled Sunday start at Oklahoma State on April 2.
The rarity of such a pitching injury — sources said Dotson fractured his humerus — fueled concern about more serious issues that might have weakened the bone. A source told MetroNews earlier Wednesday that doctors closely evaluated Dotson and gave an encouraging prognosis.
“I would like to thank Dr. Kelly Bal and our medical team here at WVU for the way they handled Conner and his injury,” Mazey said. “The surgery was very successful and we are expecting Connor to make a full recovery.”
Dotson went 3-3 this season with an ERA of 5.53 as the Mountaineers’ No. 3 starter. In 27 2/3 innings pitched, he allowed 30 hits, struck out 26 batters and walked 19.
He made the Big 12 all-tournament team last spring, capping a 7-4 season in which he tied for the West Virginia lead in wins.
While Dotson was unavailable for interviews this week, his former coach Jeff Sherman at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas, expected the pitcher to remain in good spirits.
“No matter what comes out of this, you’re going to see that kid back,” Sherman said. “I firmly believe that because of how hard that dude works.
“I’ve always felt that he’s an optimistic kid, and he’s just a ballplayer who wants it. He’s definitely one of my favorite competitors I’ve ever coached at Marcus High and we’ve had some good pitchers in the Big 12.”