CLEVELAND — Mark Schickendantz, MD, looks like an athlete walking through Cleveland Clinic's Sports Medicine Center. He's an orthopedic surgeon, scrubs his typical uniform.
But during baseball season, he's one of the most important members of the Guardians. Opening day marks his 32nd year as team doctor, dating back to when the then Indians still played at old Municipal Stadium.
"Thankfully, they don't need my services very often," Schickendantz joked.
He travels to spring training, and is usually never far from a home game.
"I go to the majority of the home games," he said. "I try to be there when the guys come off the road, I try to be there when they're leaving on a road trip, and a few games in between."
In the last three decades, Schickendantz has seen players and injury prevention evolve.
"We actually do very little surgery on these guys, if you look at it in just sheer numbers," he told 3News, "and I think it's because we understand how to get these guys back with the physical therapy and the training that we're doing."
Schickendantz's advice for future big leaguers is the same he gives to those already in the show.
"It is so important that they take some time off from their sport during the year," he explained. "It's clearly been demonstrated that the athletes that throw year-round are at greater risk for injury to their shoulder and elbow than those who take time to rest."
But now, after a two-month rest, it's time to play ball!