Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg is recovering after undergoing surgery to remove a growth in his back, per Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi.
Continue for updates.
Scott Boras: Growth ‘Caused Discomfort While Pitching’
Wednesday, Nov. 11
Scott Boras confirmed the back issues affected Strasburg’s performance during the season and that the pitcher is feeling better following the procedure, per Morosi.
The injury saga continues for Strasburg, who has made 30-plus starts in a single season just twice in his six-year career.
After a slew of injuries in 2015 that included neck tightness and an oblique strain, he most recently returned from a back issue that forced him out of an August 30 start against the Colorado Rockies that sidelined him for 10 days.
With the timing of the back procedure, Strasburg will have plenty of rest to recover before spring training begins.
There’s no question it will be imperative that Strasburg has a big season—both for his own career and his team’s benefit.
Washington still has the pieces to win right now, and hiring Dusty Baker showed the franchise’s commitment to competing for a World Series in 2016. If the Nationals lose Jordan Zimmermann to free agency this winter, Strasburg will be a key piece of the starting rotation.
The 27-year-old also has a lot on the line since he has just one more year of arbitration left before hitting the open market. The right-hander is in line for a massive payday should he pitch well and remain healthy next year. Given his recent history, those are both big question marks.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com