Drew Storen throws for Class AA Harrisburg as he struggles to gain arm strength in rehab games-MLB
Earlier when the news came from the Washington Nationals that they are reluctant to bring Drew Storen right away in the season, they pointed out an inability to achieve arm strength by him as the reason. In light of this, four runs that he gave up in less
than one inning for Class AA Harrisburg seems to vindicate the team’s concerns.
A couple of days ago, Nationals’ manager Davey Johnson had maintained that unless Storen gains arm strength, he is far from being given the call in the season.
He had stated it after he learned from team officials that the surgery that Storen went through in April has not rendered him in a position to throw comfortably from the mound as yet.
In this connection, Storen’s outing in the rehab game is going to aggravate concerns of the management.
Therefore, upcoming rehab games will be a challenge for him. By throwing consistently in those matches, he can earn the confidence of team officials and thus can appear in the season soon.
Meanwhile, manager Davey Johnson cannot ignore the fact that there is a potential loophole in their bullpen. For as long as Tyler Clippard can keep them alive in the penultimate innings, they may not have much trouble, but once he starts feeling exhausted
and thus unable to throw comfortably, the need for a quality replacement will be felt.
That makes the rehabilitation process of Storen extremely important for the club. Sooner he gains his top-notch form the better it will be for the Nationals.
In-fact, signs of potential meltdowns by Clippard were visible during the game against the Miami Marlins, when he allowed couple of walks initially and brought them to the brink of making a stunning comeback in the match.
He went on to admit this later.
“Things happen fast,” Clippard said. “At this level, that’s something that I’ve experienced in the past. I took that experience out there and kind of just beared down, and luckily enough I made some pitches that I needed to in those big spots and got out
of it.”
Meanwhile, as Storen goes through rehab assignments, one will be curious to know at which point in time, he convinces the management of his arm strength and thus of being allowed to throw in the season.
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