NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Strasburg is ready to start throwing off a mound, the next step in his recovery from reconstructive elbow surgery.
Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo says Strasburg was in Washington on Tuesday to be examined by the team’s orthopedic surgeon. Rizzo says the routine checkup went very well and Strasburg is preparing to throw off a mound “any day now.”
The 22-year-old pitching phenom had ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow Sept. 3 and it is expected to take 12-18 months for him to return to the majors. He has been throwing on flat ground as part of his rehabilitation program.
The top pick in the 2009 amateur draft, Strasburg had 14 strikeouts in his big league debut last June and went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 12 starts. He struck out 92 batters in 68 innings.
