New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom has been one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball over the past few seasons. However, his 2021 campaign has been cut short due to an arm injury that will require Tommy John surgery.
Tommy John surgery, also known as ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a damaged UCL in the elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body. The surgery is named after former Major League pitcher Tommy John, who was the first player to undergo the procedure in 1974.
DeGrom’s injury was initially diagnosed as right forearm tightness, but further testing revealed a sprain of the UCL in his pitching arm. The decision to undergo Tommy John surgery was made after consulting with multiple doctors and specialists.
The recovery time for Tommy John surgery is typically 12-18 months, meaning deGrom will likely miss the remainder of the 2021 season and potentially part of the 2022 season as well. However, the success rate for the surgery is high, and many pitchers have returned to their previous level of performance after undergoing the procedure.
DeGrom’s injury is a significant blow to the Mets’ playoff hopes, as he has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season. In 15 starts, he has a 1.08 ERA and 146 strikeouts in just 92 innings pitched. He was also selected to his fourth All-Star Game earlier this month.
The Mets will now have to rely on their other starting pitchers to step up in deGrom’s absence. Taijuan Walker, Marcus Stroman, and Carlos Carrasco will likely be asked to take on larger roles in the rotation.
Despite the setback, deGrom remains one of the best pitchers in baseball and should be able to return to form after his recovery. The Mets will hope to have him back on the mound as soon as possible, but they will also need to be cautious with his recovery to ensure he can continue to perform at a high level for years to come.
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- Source: Plato Data Intelligence.