Strasburg to miss at least a year with torn ligament

By Bud L. Ellis

It is the worst fears of the Washington Nationals come true: the MRI results of their top young pitcher are in, and it’s not good news.

Stephen Strasburg, who grabbed the attention of the baseball world with his 100 mph fastball and powerful changeup, will miss at least the next 12 months with a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

Strasburg, who brought the Nationals plenty of attention during his 12 starts this summer, may not pitch again until 2010. He will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the tear.

In those 12 starts, Strasburg went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA, striking out 92 hitters while walking only 17 in 68 innings pitched. Just as important, he packed stadiums everywhere he pitched, bringing a postseason-like atmosphere every fifth day to the cellar-dwelling Nats.

Strasburg suffered the injury last Saturday in the fifth inning against Philadelphia. After being diagnosed originally with a forearm injury, a second MRI revealed the tear and gave the Nats the news they feared most.

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Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 9:16 am by bud

Tags: Major League Baseball, Philadelphia Phillies, Stephen Strasburg, Tommy John, Washington Nationals news, Washington Nationals schedule, Washington Nationals tickets