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Corbett's career gets shot in arm thanks to Anaheim

The Palm Harbor pitcher wasn't expecting to be drafted after sitting out the Hurricanes' season.

By JOHN C. COTEY, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 6, 2002

There were first-round picks who will be millionaires, second-round picks who were shocked and thrilled, and third-round picks who couldn't believe their good fortune.

But as the draft concluded Wednesday, could any of them really say they were as happy as Jason Corbett, 49th-round pick?

Probably not.

Selected 1,443rd by the Anaheim Angels, Corbett isn't headed for the riches of others, but he may have gained something even more important to him than the money -- a fresh start.

Corbett, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander, figured his baseball career was closer to being finished than just beginning. He didn't play this season for Palm Harbor University because of an arm injury that doctors said would require Tommy John surgery. He hadn't even thrown a pitch since a fall league game.

That pitch, his first warmup toss of the second inning of his first fall start, was followed by excruciating pain in his right shoulder.

"I was pretty upset," Corbett said. "At first, we weren't sure what the injury was. It took us three weeks before we got definite, three MRIs before they found it. They told me that if I had surgery right away, I could be back by the summer."

But that would have meant missing basketball season, and Corbett wasn't willing to make that sacrifice. "It was my last year," he said, "and I just didn't want to give (everything) up."

So he played basketball, earning all-PCAC honors. And when the season concluded, he began making plans for the surgery that would keep him out for at least eight months.

On a whim, his father suggested he go out and throw a baseball just to see if the injury had gotten better.

It had.

"My dad said just to try it out and see if maybe there was a miracle," Corbett said.

Upon further examination, doctors said he no longer needed surgery, that the injury had "scarred" down.

Angels scout Tom Kotchman remembered what Corbett could do healthy and called him Wednesday morning to tell him the Angels might take a chance on him as a draft-and-follow. Corbett didn't think much of it.

"Then he called back and said they took me," Corbett said.

Originally planning on attending a four-year college and possibly walking on to a baseball team, Corbett said he has been rejuvenated by his selection. He now plans on attending a junior college for a year, and attempting to reviving his baseball career.

The Angels hold his rights until next year's draft, and if he has a good college season, he could sign or re-enter the draft to improve his position next year.

"I guess this kind of changes a lot of things," Corbett said. "I'm looking at this as another chance."

Corbett was one of three Pinellas County high schoolers picked Wednesday. Clearwater Central Catholic standout Shawn Williams was picked by dad Jimy's Houston Astros in the 35th round, and Countryside pitcher Marc Nunez went to Montreal in the 46th round.

Both have already signed with junior colleges and are most likely draft-and-follow prospects.

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