Season-ending surgery awaits St. Louis Cardinals' Chris Carpenter – MLB News
The St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, July 3, revealed that starter Chris Carpenter will undergo a season ending surgery. The pitcher who has been suffering from recurrences of numbness and weakness has hardly been able to pitch this season with the command and force witnessed last year.
The thoracic outlet syndrome has eventually led to what was rarely anticipated by either Carpenter or the team as a whole. The surgery is now scheduled this month on July 19. It will be performed by Dr. Gregory Pearl in Dallas.
While the surgery and recovery can take up to six months, it is evident now that Carpenter will not be able to pitch this season. For his reappearance on the mound, Carpenter has to wait for what seems a tediously long period.
The type of thoracic outlet syndrome the pitcher is suffering is caused due to blood vessels or nerves getting compressed in the upper chest or lower neck area. With such a problem confronting Carpenter, his ability to return becomes almost impossible.
Speaking to the press, Carpenter commented that he wanted to pitch, but was unable to do since Spring Training as the problem did not allow him.
"I want to pitch again, and this is the way for me to pitch again," Carpenter said. "We tried since Spring Training to get this going, and every time I tried to come back, unfortunately, it just doesn't allow me to do that."
It was Adam Wainwright who also had a season-ending surgery last year just when he was anticipated to destruct even the best of offences in the League. With Carpenter falling victim to this problem, the Cardinals will be faced with an unusually big challenge.
"I think everybody in there is disappointed that we'll lose the year," Carpenter said. "I think they're disappointed, including myself, that I have to [have surgery] again. But this is also the first time that there are some answers and we can get this taken care of.”
All said, the Cardinals, nonetheless, want to have a fit and in-form Carpenter after surgery for next year, not the one who risks playing without undergoing surgery.
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