Haywood's Landon Wilson returns to baseball field after losing left arm

Michael Odom
Jackson Sun
Haywood pitcher Landon Wilson had part of his left arm amputated after being struck by a car.

BROWNSVILLE — Landon Wilson had big plans for his senior baseball season at Haywood.

That changed Oct. 26 when he was struck by a car while jogging about 200 yards from his home. What followed is a story of perseverance to return to baseball.

Wilson needed eight surgeries during a 45-day stay in the hospital. His left arm was amputated. A rod was inserted in his right leg, which was severed to the bone. Screws were put in both ankles.

“The thought of baseball being over did go through my mind the first few weeks, but I told myself that I was not giving up,” said Wilson, who had started to receive some attention from college baseball coaches before the injury. “That was my first goal in the hospital, to play baseball again. Once I got out of the hospital, I walked out here the first day, and I knew that I was going to be back.”

The driver of the vehicle has not been charged, and the incident is being ruled an accident.

After last season, Wilson was starting to get some college attention after throwing 44.1 innings and holding a 4-3 record with 40 strikeouts and a 2.68 ERA.

Wilson is back on the mound, although his playing time has decreased drastically because of the injury.

He threw two shutout innings in his return on March 15.

“It was awesome to see him back out there,” Haywood coach Tyler Newman said. “The announcer talked about what he had been through. It almost brought tears to my eyes knowing what he had been through.

“He had to work to get back out there and still does with physical therapy daily and doctors’ appointments.”

Wilson has a 1-0 record this season in 8.2 innings pitched with a 3.23 ERA and 13 strikeouts.

Landon Wilson cheers as Haywood regains a late lead during a 12-11 victory against Crockett County on April 5.

Stepping onto the mound, Wilson tucks his glove under his armpit to throw and reaches his right hand over to put the glove on before catching the ball from a teammate after the play.

The accident caused Wilson to lose some of his velocity, so he works more on painting corners and trying to trick batters.

His return to the mound is the result of grueling therapy sessions two to three times a week with the hardest work getting his right foot to move up or down.

Landon Wilson laughs with teammates in the dugout during Haywood's 12-11 victory against Crockett County on April 5.

"I tell people that some want to climb Mount Everest, but Landon just wanted to climb 10 inches of clay and dirt," said Landon's father, Taylor Wilson. "I told him that if he doesn't get to throw but one pitch, he has proved a lot to me. He said he would do it, and he did it. God is not going to give you more than you can handle."

Landon Wilson will never forget the first pitch of his senior year. Through all the pain and rehab, the pitcher persevered.

“It was like a dream, and I was waiting to be woken up,” he said. “It went by so quickly. By the end, I was just shocked. I couldn’t wrap my mind around it.

“I have changed. Before this all happened, I didn’t have a care in the world. I thought I was Superman. My mindset has totally changed. It has broadened my perspective on life as a whole.”

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.