From fastballs to fresh starts: A pitcher’s recovery with Trinity Health

For 20-year-old Paxton Jeffrey, baseball wasn’t just a sport growing up — it was a way of life.

Growing up in Canton, Michigan, Paxton was immersed in the game of baseball thanks to his parents, who signed him up to play starting at the age of five. He quickly fell in love with the sport, progressing through the Plymouth/Canton Little League system before joining the Whitmore Lake Trojans travel team when he was nine years old.

A versatile utility player for most of his youth, Paxton transitioned to being a pitcher full-time when he was 17, topping out his fastball at 87 miles per hour.

“Pitching gave me a whole new perspective,” Paxton said. “I loved having control of the game.”

His high school career was interrupted a couple times, one season during the COVID-19 pandemic and another when he transferred schools, but Paxton remained committed. When he wasn’t training with a pitching coach, he was working out on his own in an effort to succeed at the next level.

Paxton began his college career at Albion before transferring to Schoolcraft to be closer to home. But everything changed for him on Oct. 31, 2024. While playing a friendly game of kickball with his baseball teammates, Paxton slipped on home plate and hyperextended his left knee.

“I heard crunches and pops and just fell to the ground,” he recalled.

Paxton soon met with Trinity Health orthopedic surgeon, Kristopher Aalderink, MD, to figure out what exactly happened. Tests revealed that Paxton suffered a partially torn meniscus, and on Nov. 14, he underwent surgery.

“I was nervous, but also relieved. Everything moved quickly, and I didn’t have to sit around waiting,” Paxton said.

Paxton quickly began his physical therapy and recovery at TrinityElite Sports Performance in Livonia. For six months, he attended physical therapy twice a week, and thanks to the expert team working with him, each session was a little bit easier than the last.

“Every time I went in, I felt better,” Paxton said. “I knew things would be tough for a while, but once I got off crutches, I was ready to go. Physical therapy made me feel better than I had in years.”

The therapy focused on rebuilding strength and symmetry, especially in his lower body. The trainers at TrinityElite made him perform single-leg movements and squats to get both legs working in-sync again, as he had subconsciously been favoring his right leg.

“Paxton’s journey is a testament to the resilience of young athletes and the power of a well-coordinated recovery plan,” Dr. Aalderink said. “At Trinity Health, we strive to not just treat an injury, but to help our patients return to the activities they love — and in Paxton’s case, finishing his playing career on his own terms was very important to him. It’s incredibly rewarding to see him thriving in the next chapter of life, and it’s part of the reason why I love my job so much.”

Paxton made a full recovery this past June and was able to play one final season of summer baseball before ending his career. However, he did have one more opportunity present itself before fully retiring from the game. Paxton and his brother, Phinley, were provided a unique opportunity to experience batting practice and play catch at Comerica Park, the home of the Detroit Tigers.

“Standing on that field where Miguel Cabrera and so many other legends of the game played was a surreal feeling,” Paxton said. “This is something I’ll never forget, and I’m so grateful to Trinity Health for making it happen.”

Now, Paxton is pursuing a new passion — electrical work. He’s attending the Southeast Michigan Construction Academy while still taking classes at Schoolcraft, with the goal of becoming an electrician and eventually owning his own contracting company.

“I do miss baseball,” Paxton admitted. “But it’s nice not being solely focused on it. For 14 years, baseball was everything. Now I have a new goal.”

And when people ask about recovery?

“I always tell them: go to Trinity Health. They got me back on my feet and helped me move forward with my life.”

Visit the TrinityElite Sports Performance website for more information about physical therapy and sports performance programs, or to schedule an appointment with a trainer.