Phillies pitcher Chad Durbin, who had Tommy John surgery early in his career, talked with the Sporting News about his fight back and what might be in store for Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg.
↵↵↵Although I got back to a competitive level inside of 12 months, it wasn’t until about 18 months after surgery that I felt like my arm speed and stuff were back to the level I was at before the surgery.
↵Continue to have high long-term expectations for yourself, but focus on each day of the protocol first. This process made me a better person, son, brother, friend and – after I was married and had a child – a better husband and father. You’ll come out of this better than before.
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The article by Durbin is pretty extensive and a good read. At one point, Tommy John was a death sentence for a pitcher’s career. Durbin is proof that that’s no longer the case.