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Rookie of the Year Kasel Hopes to Be Back No Later Than Albuquerque

By: Justin Felisko

PUEBLO, Colo. – 2019 Rookie of the Year Dalton Kasel made the mistake of coming back too soon already this year, so he is definitely not going to push it again.

Kasel was in Little Rock, Arkansas, this past weekend to help Riley Sanford haul some bulls to the Caterpillar Classic, and Kasel said he is taking things with his right groin extremely slow.

The 21-year-old revealed that he indeed tore his groin again when he returned from offseason surgery on Feb. 7 at Iron Cowboy, presented by Ariat, when Oscar’s Ghost bucked him off in 5.59 seconds. However, this groin tear is different from the one he had repaired in November.

 
“I had another MRI, and I tore it in a different place, not where I had surgery,” Kasel said. “I had a bunch of fluid built up, and I have been going to rehab and getting all of that right. It is just a rehab deal, and we just need to fix it. Hurry up and wait.”

Kasel says he expects to return to competition at the latest by the Ty Murray Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 24-26.

The Muleshoe, Texas, bull rider said the good news is that his left groin feels “fine” and he is primarily focusing on rehabbing the right one.

Kasel didn’t feel like he was rushing back too soon in the moment last month, either.

“I had gotten on practice bulls that week, and I was real sore, and I thought it was just from not being on anything in two and a half months,” Kasel said. “Come to find out, it was a little more than just being sore, but it will be alright.”

Kasel was hopeful he could contend for the 2020 World Championship this season following his breakout rookie campaign last season. Depending on when he returns, he could still have time to make a push at the title, but that would be realistically tough.

However, Kasel finished eighth in the world last season despite not making his Unleash The Beast debut until Aug. 10 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Kasel went 14-for-35 with two 90-point rides, a victory in Nampa, Idaho, and four Top-5 finishes in 10 events.

“The way I am looking at it, last year I didn’t start going to PBRs until the middle of June, and I ended up in the Top 10,” Kasel said. “This year, it is not anything different. It is just another deal. I am craving it so much that I am not worried one bit about any of that. I am going to let my body be right before I come back.”

Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko

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