FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas redshirt junior Keaton McKinney underwent a second Tommy John surgery late last month, bringing into question whether he will be able to pitch again.
McKinney, a right-hander, has undergone Tommy John surgery twice in the past 15 months. Cincinnati Reds medical director Timothy Kremchek operated on McKinney both times, most recently April 20.
"I think it definitely hit me harder this time, for sure, after putting all that work in and really thinking this might be the breakout year I needed," McKinney said. "I've still got to keep a positive outlook because that's all I can do is look forward now; can't look back."
McKinney was cleared to begin a throwing program late last year, but has not pitched in a game since a two-inning start against Bucknell on Feb. 18 - his only appearance this season.
McKinney said he felt a burning sensation during that game and during some scrimmages leading up to it, and later learned he had partially re-torn the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.
"I never really felt it when I would play catch. I would only feel it when I was on the mound," McKinney said. "During the Bucknell game I knew I wasn't going to pitch for long, but I wanted to get out there because I had worked so hard. As soon as the second batter came in the box I felt my arm tighten up and it felt really bad.
"I knew something was wrong. It just felt heavy. It felt like I could hardly throw the ball 60 feet."
McKinney, who graduates this weekend with a degree in business, hopes to enroll in a graduate program later this year and pitch again at Arkansas in 2019, but said that decision will depend on how his rehabilitation goes.
"I'm weighing my options of coming back," McKinney said. "This time it's a little different because it's only an eight-month rehab process. I love the game and I'd love to come back, but if my arm is telling me no, I'm not going to push it.
"I'm definitely hopeful this will work and I can play again."
The latest Tommy John is the third major surgery for McKinney during his college years. He underwent hip surgery in the summer of 2015 after a Freshman All-America campaign in which he started 18 times, recorded two complete games and had a 3.21 ERA, best among Arkansas' weekend starters.
But McKinney struggled to return to form in 2016, recording a 6.66 ERA in 12 starts and one relief appearance, and he never pitched in 2017 after tearing his UCL for the first time during the preseason.
In an interview with WholeHogSports last spring, McKinney said doctors told him the UCL tear might have been related to pitching through the earlier hip injury, which caused him to put more stress on his upper body.
McKinney spent several hours each day working out last summer in his home state of Iowa, and returned to Fayetteville for fall practice with 15 pounds of added muscle. His fastball was recorded at 93 mph during one preseason practice, the best velocity of his career.
"I've seen him work so hard to get in the best shape I'd ever seen him in when he came back (last) summer ready to go," Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn said. "Then for him to get hurt again...he's just a tough kid. I think all that he's learned here and all that he's gone through is really going to help him throughout his lifetime.
"I think he'll be successful in whatever he chooses to do - in the business world, or anything - because he knows how to persevere and get through things when it's not going good."
McKinney, who grew up in the Des Moines suburb of Ankeny, was one of the most sought-after baseball recruits in the high school class of 2014. Baseball America rated him a top 100 prospect for the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, but he wasn't selected until the 28th round by the New York Mets because of a high asking price for a signing bonus.
He turned down professional offers in the high six figures to play at Arkansas.
"I've never looked back or could say I regret that decision," McKinney said. "I grew up two hours from Omaha and I got to live out a dream of pitching there. That's just priceless, being able to come to Arkansas and pitch in front of all these fans and some of the biggest crowds here. I wouldn't trade that for the world."
Information for this article was contributed by Bob Holt