Saturday, August 4, 2001
[ PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ]
Kaulana Kuhaulua's first professional baseball season has been curtailed and might be over because of a strained right elbow. Kuhaulua’s first pro
season cut short
by elbow injuryBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe Waianae High School graduate was selected in the 12th round of the 2001 first-year player draft by the Minnesota Twins. He signed and was assigned to the Elizabethton (Tenn.) Twins in the rookie advanced Appalachian League.
Twelve games into the season, Kuhaulua hurt his right wrist in practice and did not play for a week.
"I didn't do any throwing. When I came back and played one game, the elbow didn't bother me, although it felt tight," Kuhaulua said. "When I woke up the next morning, I couldn't straighten my arm and there was a big knot by the elbow."
He was examined by a doctor, who diagnosed the problem as a strained collateral ligament. The Twins coaches immediately stopped all activity involving his right arm.
"I'm not allowed to do any throwing or hitting for the next two weeks," Kuhaulua said. "After that, they will put me on a throwing program. By then, there will only be one week left in the season, so I might not be back."
He has never had an arm problem before. He is expected to be ready to continue his playing late next month when instructional league workouts start in Florida.
Kuhaulua, who played two years at Los Angeles City College and one at Long Beach State, started 13 games at shortstop for Elizabethton. He was hitting .292 (14-for-48) with three doubles, one triple and four RBIs. He also stole three bases in four attempts.