Tyler Yates got a love of surfing from his mother, who raised the family in Hawaii. (Julie Jacobson/AP)
Tyler Yates knew it wasn't the end of his career when he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2002. It couldn't be.
Sure, it would be a fight to come back. But Yates had the best living example of what a fighter's spirit could accomplish in his mom, Janna Yates. So, when the hard-throwing Hawaiian needed to push himself just a little harder during rehab or work out just a little more to get his right arm strong again, the motivation was simple.
Janna Yates is a breast cancer survivor. Don't call her a victim. She beat back the disease 10 years ago this August, inspiring her family while giving her son the courage to accomplish almost anything.
"His drive comes from me and his focus," said Janna Yates from her executive office at the Millennium Mortgage Company in Hawaii. "I see that and I'm so proud of Tyler. He's not faltering in his goal. He blew out his arm and he never looked back. It was a setback but nothing he couldn't overcome.
"When he had the surgery, he came home [from Triple-A Norfolk]. But after three weeks he went back to be with the team and the trainers because he knew he had to. He's always realized his potential."
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