PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nationals rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg had reconstructive elbow surgery Friday that could keep him out of the starting rotation until the 2012 season.
Lewis Yocum performed the procedure in Inglewood, Calif., in which a piece of ligament was taken from the 22-year-old right-hander’s left leg and transplanted into his pitching elbow.
The Nationals said that Strasburg will be released Saturday and begin rehab on Monday at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla, Calif., near his home in San Diego.
Strasburg made his much anticipated major-league debut on June 8 against Pittsburgh at Washington and struck out 14 batters in seven innings. He finished with a 5-3 record and 2.91 ERA in 12 starts, striking out 92 in 68 innings.
