Dan Osterbrock to Have Surgery Former Colerain UC Star Gets Knife While Fellow UC Grad Makes Debut

The University of Cincinnati baseball program must have mixed blessings today.

Tony Campana out of Springboro High School and UC and Dan Osterbrock former Colerain pitcher and UC star got news today.  One had good news.  The other bad news.

Campana defied odds and was called up by the Chicago Cubs and got his first major league hit, RBI and run scored in front of 50 friends and family members.

Osterbrock, who contacted Campana at least six times to congratulate his friend, found a calcium deposit that was rubbing against his the bursa sac in his left shoulder. Osterbrock worked through discomfort that has lasted for months despite rigorous rehab.  An MRI in January failed to find the source of the discomfort.  On Monday, a second look revealed the cause.

"They're going to shave it off and relieve the pressure," said Osterbrock, the Minnesota Twins seventh round draft pick.  He was picked six rounds before his friend, Campana, was chosen by the Cubs.  "I will rehab and be good to go. I may miss a few months but they (Twins) mentioned winter ball to make up for lost time."

Actually, from this reporter's experience, it was good news for my fellow Colerain alumnus.  Had the shoulder and bursa sac been damaged further, the rehab could have lasted at least 12 months.  They caught the problem before damage was done, making the comeback a lot shorter.

Winter league baseball is good experience and Osterbrock is already used to the rigors of rehab.

He is in for an experience because winter league fans and players take baseball very serious.  It is good competition and will really help Osterbrock develop.  He may want to ask if he can use Colerain's language lab and learn Spanish.  I can help him with the swear words after spending eight years in New York, working and walking through neighborhoods where it was assumed you spoke Spanish.