Nearly 15 years of throwing 90 mph fastballs and knee-buckling curveballs has finally caught up to Shoreland Lutheran graduate Scott Roehl.

The Cleveland Indians’ farmhand was placed on the disabled list for only the second time in his seven-year professional career and suffered his first significant injury after being diagnosed with a strained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow last month.

Roehl is currently rehabilitating the injury at the Indians’ spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., and expects to re-join Akron (Ohio) of the Double-A Eastern League before the season ends in September.

“Things are going well and progressing better than I thought they would,” Roehl said.

“Mentally, at first, it was a hard blow and took awhile to get over but once I did it made it easier to rehab and have a positive outlook on things.”

Elbow injuries have cost many pitchers their careers and often result in ligament replacement “Tommy John” surgery.

Although the success rate for the surgery has improved greatly over the past 25 years and is now a relatively simple procedure, the recovery time typically takes at least one year.

Looking to avoid surgery, Roehl is on a strengthening program and hopes the ligament heals on its own. Roehl is already throwing again and was expected to toss from 60 feet Wednesday. If all goes well, he will step back to 75 feet Friday.

“It takes awhile to build (strength) back up and you don’t want to rush things and make it worse,” Roehl said. “The biggest thing now is to take my time and make sure I come back to full strength to end the season.”

Roehl received an early-season promotion to Columbus (Ohio) of the Triple-A International League — where players are only a phone call away from the big leagues — and had a pair of strong stints at Akron before suffering the injury. The 27-year old pitched in two spring training games with the Indians in March and appeared to be close to throwing his first big-league pitch.

Cleveland, all but out of playoff contention, traded A.L. Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee to Philadelphia Wednesday for four prospects.

The Indians will likely tap deep into their minor league system to fill their roster over the final two months of the season.

“Injuries, unfortunately, are part of the game and there really is no good time to get them,” Roehl said. “It’s how you deal with the injury and how you come back from it that matters. Right now, I am focused on making the best of it and moving forward.”

Roehl, an Eastern League All-Star last season, was placed on the disabled list earlier this year with a minor groin injury. The University of Arkansas product has appeared in only 13 games and has yet to factor in a decision.

Roehl sports a 3.57 ERA with 21 hits allowed in 222/3 innings along with nine walks and 15 strikeouts.

Selected by the Indians in the 10th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft, Roehl has logged 382 professional innings with a career 2.99 ERA in 209 appearances.