RHP Stephen Strasburg to have Tommy John Surgery, out for 2010 & 2011

As if things could not get any worse for the Washington Nationals.

Since being pulled from his start last Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies with an apparent forearm injury, a flexor strain, Nat's rookie right-hander Stephen Strasburg has been the topic of the week, with fans wondering what the prognosis was on the true injury.

It was the words no one, baseball and Nationals fans alike, wanted to hear.

Tommy John Surgery.

After receiving an MRI, it was found that Strasburg had a significant tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, a tendon found in his pitching elbow. The injury will require Tommy John Surgery, a procedure which can often keep players from the game for a year or longer. TJS is a dangerous surgery and can often be a death sentence for pitchers, as some never regain the caliber that they once had. However, 75% of elite pitchers come back with the same talent or can be even better. Such examples are A.J. Burnett, Chris Carpenter and John Smoltz.

Strasburg is finished for the 2010 season and will almost undoubtedly pitch during the 2011 season, in order to recover from the injury.

"I look at the bright side," Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo said. "Tommy John surgery is a surgery that we've had great success at. The success rate for guys coming back from Tommy John and retaining their stuff is very good."

Now the question is being asked: Is Stephen Strasburg the next Mark Prior?

Prior, who also was from San Diego and was a first round draft pick by the Chicago Cubs, had the same hype as Strasburg: The next best pitcher in baseball. However injuries plagued Prior's career, and the league never got to see the pitcher everyone imagined. This however, all came before the act of innings limits and pitch counts...

The Nationals defined the term "babying" with Strasburg.

Washington kept him on strict innings limits and pitch counts, and, before the injury, were planning to shut him down sometime during the season when he hit his limit. The injury, apparently, came on one pitch, so it's hard to say that the Nationals' protection of Strasburg is the cause. Some think his being "rushed" to the majors could be the cause of the injury, due the significant difference between the minors and majors, most notably stressful innings. However, with a pitcher like Strasburg, who throws incredibly hard on every pitch and has a violent windup, some thought the injury was inevitable.

"The player was developed and cared for in the correct way, and things like this happen," Rizzo said. "Pitchers break down, pitchers get hurt and we certainly are not second-guessing ourselves. ... Frustrated? Yes. But second-guessing ourselves? No."

The #1 overall pick in last year's draft, and owner of the highest contract ever given to a drafted player, Strasburg has established himself as the ace of the Nationals's pitching staff, going 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 12 starts, as well as striking out 92 in 68 innings. It all started with an amazing debut, when Strasburg, 22, struck out 14 batters in his first start.

Thus the beginning of Strasburg-mania.

Should he be an All-Star?
Rookie of the Year in the National League?
Does he have a shot at the Cy Young?
Is he a bust?
Is he the real deal?

All of those questions, now silenced.

At least until 2012.

It's a huge blow to baseball and a huge blow the Nationals' franchise. We can only hope that Strasburg can come back stronger than he was this season and his recovery will be quick and clean.