Nationals concerned about Stephen Strasburg injury
The Washington Nationals unsurprisingly placed young pitching ace Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list after the rookie suffered a strained flexor tendon in his right forearm. Strasburg is scheduled to undergo more MRIs and the Nationals are concerned that Strasburg may have suffered an injury more serious than originally thought.
Strasburg was already placed on the disabled list in July after some inflammation in his right shoulder. Now the team fears he may be suffering from a serious elbow injury. He is already likely done for the season, as the Nationals are out of playoff contention and there’s no need to rush Strasburg back on the field.
If Strasburg’s injury is a tear of the tendon in his elbow, he’ll have to undergo reconstructive surgery known as "Tommy John" surgery. That kind of injury would sideline him for at least a year. As a rookie, that is not a good start for his career, especially when he has shown so much potential in his starts.
Strasburg suffered the injury on a fifth inning pitch in Philadelphia last Saturday. He winced in pain following the throw and was pulled from the game. It is still not known when Strasburg will pitch again as MRIs only showed that he needed further tests on his flexor tendon.
Some are wondering with his recent injury problems if Strasburg pitched for too many innings this season. Strasburg is only 22-years-old and many are starting to feel he was rushed into the big leagues. He looked impressive in his first few games, going 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA. That’s only through 10 starts though and he’s already suffered two injuries. Strasburg had only pitched 55 1/3 innings in the minors before joining the Nationals. That raises concerns that the team rushed Strasburg up.
If the injury is as serious as the Nationals fear, then it will pose many problems for Strasburg’s future. Missing an entire year of pitching would not only inhibit his development, but there are no guarantees that he can throw the same lightning strikes when he comes back.
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