Associated Press
WASHINGTON ó Stephen Strasburg had Tommy John surgery a year ago Saturday. It’s an anniversary he’d like to forget, and he’s getting closer to putting it behind him.
Strasburg is scheduled to start for the Washington Nationals on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he’s eager to get going. The right-hander threw a bullpen session Saturday.
“It seems like it’s been a year,” Strasburg said. “I didn’t know how long it was going to feel like. I thought it was going to take forever the first five months I wasn’t throwing. Then when I started to throw off the mound and facing hitters, it started to speed up.”
The 22-year-old Strasburg, who was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, said he has a few goals for his remaining handful of starts this year.
“Bottom line is to go out there and get your innings in and build up your arm strength, go into the offseason healthy,” Strasburg said.
“I’m not going to put any expectations on myself. I’m not going to go out there and win a Cy Young in four starts.”