Hi I’m Brayden Ryan. I was in my senior year of highschool at Lawrence Academy and I was having the best season of my life. In the midst of it I was still trying to commit to a school. Halfway through my season I tore my UCL. It was devastating knowing I had to hang my cleats up for the rest of the season. I was still uncommitted going into the summer and knowing I had to find a home as well as get Tommy John Surgery was the most stressful time in my life.

Despite all of the stress, I knew Tommy John Surgery was a no brainer for me. To be able to continue to play baseball at the highest level meant it was absolutely necessary to have the surgery!

During the run up to surgery, I was very nervous yet excited for the future. I knew I was in the best of hands with Dr. Ahmad and his team. Recovery from TJ has its ups and downs. There are times of hope and times of doubt. I am still going through my rehab and some days are really tough, but somehow the days have turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months and the little checkpoints along the way have been nothing but bright lights at the end of the tunnel. I’ve been working with Champion Physical Therapy and The Strength House throughout my rehab and they have also been amazing. I have grown so much as a person not only physically, but mentally as well. Surgery has made me more mature in all aspects of my life. I am still working hard to get back and ready for my first season at Merrimack College. Looking back at the time of surgery, I thought a year was going to feel like forever. Now that I have passed the one year checkmark, it feels like it flew by. ‘