Padres farmhand Rusty Silcox went down with an elbow injury late in the 1990 campaign, bad enough that doctors presented Tommy John Surgery as an option, The San Bernardino County Sun wrote in June 1991.
Silcox, though, chose rehab over the knife, and it seemed to pay off, The Sun wrote.
"It's too early in my career," Silcox explained to The Sun of his choice against surgery.
Silcox made it back to the mound that year, but another injury, to his knee, ultimately led to its own surgery. His career's end came not long after. He saw four seasons and topped out at AA.
Silcox' career began in 1990, taken by the Padres in the fourth round of the draft out of Arizona State University.
At Arizona State, Silcox picked up five saves, including a four-inning hitless season-ending effort, The Arizona Republic wrote.
"I got some innings in - that's the main thing," Silcox told The Republic afterward.
Silcox started with the Padres at short-season Spokane. He saw 16 starts and went 3-1, with a 6.43 ERA. His season then ended on that elbow injury.
Silcox then got back on the field in mid-1991 at high-A High Desert. He saw 18 outings, 16 starts and went 5-1, with a 5.24 ERA. He also took the win in Game 5 of the league championship series for High Desert.
He then underwent arthroscopic knee surgery early on in 1992, when assigned back to High Desert.
"This is, by far, not a career ending thing," Silcox told The Victorville Daily Press then. "I just turned 23. That (ending his career) hasn't even entered my mind."
Silcox made it back to the field that year, with single-A Waterloo. He saw six starts, went 3-1, with a 1.24 ERA.
Silcox moved to the Mets system and AA Binghamton for 1993. But he saw just three starts. He went 0-1, with a 6.97 ERA. Those three starts proved his last outings as a pro.
- Arizona Republic, May 21, 1990: ASU, Kelly close season with flourish
- San Bernardino County Sun, June 1, 1991: Silcox just waiting for chance to pitch
- Victorville Daily Press, May 9, 1992: Mavericks
Made the Majors:1,346-33.2%
Never Made Majors:2,709-66.8%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:548
10+ Seasons in the Minors:333
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