Darren Dreifort is going to be honored with induction into the national surgery hall of fame.
Actually, the oft-injured and frequently maligned former Dodgers
pitcher will be entering the College Baseball Hall of Fame. But is
there any doubt he could qualify for both?
The L.A. Times notes
that Dreifort will be inducted on Friday in Lubbock, Texas, assuming,
in his words, “whether I can walk, or how well I’m getting around.”
It’s nice to see the right-hander honored for his accomplishments at
Wichita State, but is a painful reminder for Dodgers fans of how
injuries derailed the career of a promising pitcher chosen one spot
behind Alex Rodriguez in the 1993 draft. The Dodgers paid Dreifort
nearly $64 million over the course of his career, including a $55
million deal before the 2001 season. For all that money, they got a
48-60 record and 274 appearances as a starter and reliever over parts
of 11 seasons.
The grisly details:
And even though retired, his luck has not changed.
These days, Dreifort appears to be in peak condition, dressed for
an interview in shorts, a tight T-shirt and running shoes. He notes,
however, that he experiences almost constant pain.
“I’m doing nothing,” he says on the eve of his most recent visit to the operating room, “and I’m still having surgery.”
