Reigning AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander was hampered by a pair of spring health troubles — a lat strain and a groin injury that required surgery — but the Houston ace told reporters Thursday that he’s progressed to playing long toss (Twitter links via Brian McTaggart of MLB.com). The lat strain, per Verlander, is mostly healed up, and he’s made “a big stride” in his rehab from the groin surgery as well.
Both updates are encouraging for the Astros, although there’s still no formal word from the team on a timetable for the right-hander’s return to the mound. At the time of Verlander’s surgery in mid-March, Astros general manager James Click put a rough six-week timetable on his rehab process. We’re a couple days past that point now, although with the 2020 season in limbo, it’s only sensible to be a bit cautious in the rehab process.
Verlander added that the surgery is “already showing some benefit in my mechanics” as he works to make his delivery as efficient as possible (link via the Houston Chronicle’s Chandler Rome). Notably, Verlander revealed that the surgery stemmed from an MRI that revealed his adductor muscle had nearly torn off the bone completely.
Verlander, 37, is signed through the 2021 season at $33MM per year under the terms of the extension he signed with Houston late in Spring Training last year. He responded to that contract with arguably the best season of his Hall of Fame career. Verlander led the league with 223 innings and pitched to a 2.58 ERA with a masterful 300-to-42 K/BB ratio (12.1 K/9, 1.7 BB/9) and narrowly edged now-former teammate Gerrit Cole for Cy Young honors in the AL. He made at least 30 starts for the 13th time in 14 years, and his 179 ERA+ represented a career best.
Is it good to take big strides recovering from groin surgery
That thought occurred to me as well.
“Notably, Verlander revealed that the surgery stemmed from an MRI that revealed his adductor muscle had nearly torn off the bone completely.”
First off… that just SOUNDS awful!! Does anybody know if this is an injury that happens from a single event, or is it a result of longterm wear and tear? If it’s longterm, it sure makes the numbers from last year even more astounding.
Kate Upton
Good question! I suspect that it was over time, slowly tearing with the torque a pitcher outs on their body with every pitch.
I still wonder how Ryu came back from a similar injury apparently surgery in 2017 (if I recall correctly). He missed a big chunk of the season, and just did rehab with no surgery. There was also talk that like Verlander’, it was torn completely from the bone. A PT could best answer this. But, recalling from my anatomy trainingI know that there are quite a few muscles making up the groups of muscles commonly called adductors, abductors, quadriceps, and hamstring muscles. They all attach at different points in our bones.
I’m surmising that the number of muscles involved in moving our thighs also allows for someone like Ryu to rehab and compensate with other adductor muscles. That is likely what Verlander’snfirst course of action was as surgery is rarely the first option.
As if it was an acute injury, you’d think it would be quite obvious for most people considering the intense pain that would be most often associated with an acute injury like an adductor muscle tearing off a part of bone in one acute injury.
Not as painful as rehabbing from cheating.
I heard beating a trash can is a great rehab workout during live games in the dugout. Sorry couldn’t resist.
It’s open mike night……
Verlander is certainly defying that age curve, one that separates the HOF caliber players vs that wretched hall of really good players, like Sergio Mitre.
Truly a pleasure to watch over the years, his body of work is impressive, I didn’t expect him to K 300 in a CY season heading into 2019, I don’t think anyone expected a career year from a guy in his “late” 30s.
The whole defying the age curve is an intangible that still can’t be 100% clearly quantified on paper, one that JV has defeated thus far. Verlander seems to stay healthy, unlike a guy like say Miguel Cabrera.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Verlander finishes in the top 5 in the CY for the next several years, dude is a stud. And, despite these recent ailments, has put together a HOF career already, crazy to think he will continue adding to that resume.
It’s important to remember Father Time is still undefeated. Looking at you Tom Brady.
BASEBALL PLEASE. Latest report says July 2nd start date with a late June short Spring Training, not sure why MLBTR isn’t covering that news that hit the wire a day or so ago. Pretty legit reporting, with Fauci clarifying his previous statement saying he can see a July start date, the report talks logistics and a tangible scenario.
Scroll down the newsfeed and look for the article “Latest On Potential Realignment For 2020 Season”, you are about two days late on “not sure why MLBTR isn’t covering that news” 😉
Justin Verlander (despite being an Astrro) is still my favorite pitcher in baseball. I hope he gets back to full health for the season, and proves to the people that he does; in fact, age like fine wine.
I wonder if the groin injury was a direct result of putting his foot in his mouth during the BBWAA banquet
Probably due to uhhhh, uhhhh, uhhhh too many time with Kate!
Definition of hell – Being quarantined with Kate Upton while rehabbing a groin injury.
lol, i can only imagine!
Hypocritical Cheating Arrogant Scumbag!!
Tell us how you really feel
Whether it’s uncle Jung getting the last of the chips after the rest of us go to bed, or if it’s an elite pitcher taking PEDs, everyone is cheating at least a little.
the former is the most vile kind though, you gotta admit
Unless there is Dorito dust, we’ll never catch uncle Jung. And even if we catch him, our uncle denies or has excuses instead of just letting us be mad for a spell.
Unbelievable pro sports seasons late in their thirties? Same as Dorito dust evidence.
“Everyone is cheating at least a little.” Try telling that to your wife. See if she has anything to say about it.
Get old,have injuries, keep rehabbing and collect those millions to the end of the contract. All about the $, nothing else.