Justin Verlander may have had his last appearance with the Houston Astros in their win against the Seattle Mariners in the season opener. The pitcher announced that he’s set to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair the damage in his elbow.
Verlander will be out for the remainder of the 2020 season and he only has two-years left on his deal with the Astros, making him a free-agent in 2022. Recovery from the surgery varies, but it usually takes 12 to 15 months to return, which could mean that the 37-year-old pitcher would miss the 2021 season as well.
Before attempting a comeback last week, Verlander hadn’t seen the field since July due to a forearm strain and in his most recent game, he felt “stiffness” in his elbow. He was advised by a doctor to have the procedure.
“I truly believe everything happens for a reason,” said Verlander in a video posted on social media. “And although 2020 has sucked, hopefully when this rehab process is all said and done, this will allow me to charge through the end of my career and be healthy as long as I want and pitch as long as I want and accomplish some of the goals that I want in my career.”
Since joining the Astros in 2017, Verlander has played some of the best baseball of his career. He’s earned two All-Star appearances and he won the Cy Young award in 2019. His record since arriving in Houston is 43-15 record with 2.45 ERA and 640 strikeouts.
