McClure healing from seasonending surgery

Kade McClure is back home recovering from the first major injury of his sports career.

The White Sox pitching prospect and Mentor graduate recently had surgery to repair injuries he said were a dislocated kneecap and ligament damage in his knee.

McClure had the procedure on his knee in Chicago on May 30, and since then is undergoing physical therapy in the area.

He has a follow-up in Chicago on July 27.

In mid-July, McClure leaves for Arizona for more therapy under the watch of the White Sox.

He’s hoping to be recovered by October, and to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic by November.

As difficult as the injury has been for McClure in his first full season of professional baseball, there is a bright side. His powerful right arm was not injured.

“You do need your legs to pitch, but it’s not what you need to make all your pitches,” said McClure. “It sucks, but it happens. Like I said to my dad, it could have been worse. I’ve know guys who have had (Tommy John) surgery, so what I’m going through isn’t as bad as that.

“But it is a wake-up call, and it shows that this doesn’t

last forever, and can be taken away from you at any time.”

McClure said he was “pretty down” after the surgery, but has leaned on a few things to help through the early stages of his post-surgery recovery.

“Loving Netflix right now,” he said. “I’m not really watching much baseball right now.”

Also helping is talks with former Mentor teammate and North Carolina tight end Brandon Fritts, who’s out for an extended period after ACL surgery on his knee after an injury in the spring sidelined him.

“We talk about our recoveries and that’s helped a lot,” McClure said. “We probably

talk two, three times a week.”

McClure injured his knee during a game with SingleA Kannapolis in May while fielding a line drive hit back at him.

“It went off my glove, and shot to the left side,” he said. “When I went to throw, my left foot stayed planted, and I felt my knee pop. I knew something was wrong.”

Prior to his injury, McClure was having a nice season with the Intimidators as a starter.

McClure was 3-1 with a solid 3.02 ERA, and had 42 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings pitched. Opponents hit .265 against him, and his WHIP was 1.37.

“I felt I was pitching well,”

McClure said. “I had pretty good command, and I was working my change-up. I was really excited to keep working on that, and that’s what makes the injury disappointing. I was feeling dominant out there.”

McClure’s two best starts of the season were April 21 and May 7. On April 21 vs. Greensville, he pitched seven innings, allowed six hits, no runs and struck out nine. On May 7 vs. Hagerstown, he also pitched seven innings, allowed five hits, no runs and fanned nine.

In 2017, McClure was selected out of the University of Louisville by the White Sox in Round 6 with the 177th overall pick.