Through the first half of the season, No. 13 ASU has had its share of injuries. Now both freshman pitcher Jeff Urlaub and sophomore shortstop Andrew Romine are coming back to help the Sun Devils just as conference play is getting underway.
Urlaub hasn't pitched since March 12th against Texas Christian University. In that game he lasted five innings, which was his shortest appearance in his four starts.
"He didn't throw very well [against TCU]," ASU coach Pat Murphy said. "Something was bugging him and it's probably because he was sick already."
Urlaub was cleared for light activity and practiced with the team for the first time on Wednesday after being diagnosed with mononucleosis in late March.
"I'm ready to get out there and start going now, but I know I have to keep it within myself and take my time getting back," Urlaub said.
Before the illness set in, Urlaub had been the Sun Devils' ace, going 5-0 with a 1.91 ERA and 27 strikeouts. Now that he's past the sickness, Urlaub feels he can pick up where he left off.
"I have confidence in myself and I'm just going to go out there like I have been, granted it's a month later," Urlaub said.
The southpaw could see action out of the bullpen in this weekend's home series against Washington, according to Murphy, probably on Saturday or Sunday.
Meanwhile, Romine made his season debut last Thursday at Washington State and wasted no time turning heads with his bat and his glove, going 7-for-12 with a few defensive gems over the weekend. He had the eventual game-winning RBI in Saturday evening's contest against the Cougars, and in the bottom of the ninth he made a diving stop and threw out speedy Washington State shortstop Paul Gran.
Romine's performance earned him Pac-10 Player of the Week and College Baseball Foundation National Honor Roll Player of the Week honors.
"It felt like I never left the field," Romine said.
Romine missed the first half of the season because he had rib removal surgery in January to repair a blood clot. In 2005, he batted .282 and started 59 games as a freshman.
"It's an amazing testament to how mentally tough he is," Murphy said. "The kid loves baseball and he sacrificed a lot to put himself out there. Most people are not back that quick."
Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers had similar surgery in July of 2001 and missed the remainder of the season.
Reach the reporter at thomas.j.kelley@asu.edu.
