Fansided

Stephen Strasburg has flexor mass strain, avoids Tommy John surgery

By Joshua Sadlock

Jul 8, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 8, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The injury to Stephen Strasburg is not as serious as initially feared, as the Nationals pitcher has no damage to his UCL.

After leaving last night’s game after throwing only 42 pitches, Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals feared the worst. The right-handed pitcher had felt a “pinch” in his surgically-repaired elbow. When a pitcher who has previously undergone Tommy John surgery describes pain like this, extreme caution has to be taken.

According to Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post, there is no damage to Strasburg’s ulnar collateral ligament. Strasburg has been diagnosed with a flexor mass strain, which is not a serious injury. Surgery will not be required, but it is still too early to set a timetable for Strasburg’s return.

The flexor mass is a group of muscles located on the inside of the elbow that controls the fingers, bending and flexing them. A pitcher needs these muscles to grip and properly throw a ball. The throwing motion puts these muscles under intense strain, resulting in inflammation and other overuse injuries. The flexor mass is not associated with the UCL.

A flexor mass strain does not point directly to Tommy John surgery, but it is concerning. Hunter Harvey, a highly regarded prospect in the Orioles’ system, dealt with flexor mass injuries for several years before finally succumbing to Tommy John surgery this season. The pitching motion is highly unnatural, and if one part of the elbow is injured or weakened, it can put undue stress on other parts of the arm.

This latest injury follows a DL stint for elbow soreness, and the Nationals have to proceed with extreme caution when deciding whether or not Stephen Strasburg will pitch in the playoffs. The front office notoriously decided to shut their ace down before the 2012 postseason despite the fact that he was fully healthy. The Nationals have even more reason to keep Strasburg on the shelf this season, as they committed $175 million to him over the next seven years earlier this season.

Home/Washington Nationals