Stephen Strasburg 'probably' needs Tommy John surgery, will miss 12 to 18 months

[jefferson_dem]

This is a real tragedy (insofar as sporting injuries can be those). After all the "phenom" ... best pitching prospect in a decade hype...this:

Stephen Strasburg 'probably' needs Tommy John surgery, will miss 12 to 18 months

Rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg will "probably" miss at least one year and perhaps the entire 2011 baseball season after undergoing Tommy John surgery to replace the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, General Manager Mike Rizzo said. After one of the most electrifying beginnings to a baseball career in memory and after validating the massive hype that trumpeted his arrival, Strasburg ends his season with an uncertain future. The Washington Nationals will hold their breath.

Strasburg will receive a second opinion from Dr. Lewis Yocum, the surgeon who performed Tommy John surgery on Jordan Zimmermann.

The Nationals discovered the damaged ligament Thursday morning when team doctor Wiemi Douoguih administered an arthrogram, an enhanced MRI exam in which dye is shot into the specified area. The Nationals had been unclear about Strasburg's injury prior to the test and were considering Strasburg's injury a strained flexor tendon in his forearm.

Tommy John surgery requires a grueling, 12-to-18 month rehab, but the success rate for pitchers returning to full strength and capability is roughly 90 percent. While the surgery will rob Strasburg of most if not all of next season, the chances he will be able to continue his career as a flame-throwing strikeout artist are strong.

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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2010/08/stephen_strasburg_probably_nee.html

[charlie and algernon]

1. Man, that sucks, I feel so bad for that kid

Damn the Natinals for rushing the kid through the minors so fast that may have now damaged his career.

[TZ]

2. Umm. I don't think that had anything to do with this injury.

They could have EASILY brought him up in September after he pitched in spring training for them. And really, he would have had the same amount of starts and probably pitches in the minor leagues. Everyone else I know actually thinks that the Nats were BABYING him (and that includes professional baseball analysts). From what I've read this has to do with HOW he throws and could've happened in the minors as well- like Kerry Wood. Like Mark Pryor. Jordan Zimmerman from the Nats had the same issue. Come on. He MISSED three weeks on the DL.

[OmahaBlueDog]

6. I agree. It wasn't like he was playing for Billy Martin's A's and throwing CGs every 5 days.

The 100 mph fastball is more likely the reason, and this could have just as easily happened in the minors, or not happened for 5 years. It's just extraordinarily bad luck. I hope he can have a very successful rehab.

I also suppose we should all wait for the second opinion -- I doubt it will be different, but one never knows.

[Bertha Venation]

3. I don't think they rushed him.

They've treated him like a brand-new baby ever since they signed him. I think the kid was just doing his job and something snapped, literally. The kid got a shitty draw. I'm heartbroken for him.

[Swede]

4. 12-18 months!

What a crappy break.

[REP]

5. As one of the very few non-athletes with UCL damage, he has my sincere sympathy

The surgery and rehab are excruciatingly painful.