Chicago Cubs fans are still tormented by the injuries that struck star pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood earlier this decade, derailing what looked to be Major League Baseball’s next dominant duo. When Nationals rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg learned he needed Tommy John surgery last week, the 22-year-old was immediately linked to both pitchers. But is that fair? At least one of those former Cubs pitchers doesn’t think so.
“Not really, besides the fact that we were both college pitchers and both players of the year in college,” Prior said in an interview with San Diego’s XX sports radio station. “He was the first pick and I was the second pick. I think that’s where, in my opinion, the parallels start veering off course.”
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That’s because Prior, who at Strasburg’s age posted a brilliant 18-6 season with a 2.43 ERA, was sidelined by shoulder injuries, not the easier-to-repair torn elbow ligaments. Now 29, Prior plays independent ball in his native southern California. He knows better than anyone what Strasburg will go through over the next 12 months.
“He’s going to have the attention versus a Double-A pitcher who is going to have Tommy John tomorrow at the same time,” Prior said. “People are going to want to know how he is feeling in two weeks, five weeks and the 15th week. With the other guys, nobody is going to care … He’s going to have to deal with people asking him everyday, ‘How do you feel?’”
Despite his incredible arm, Wood was never the pitcher Prior became, however briefly. His command prevented that. But Wood, too, had Tommy John surgery at age 22. He missed all of the 1999 season, had a mediocre year in 2001 and then recovered to post three consecutive seasons with an ERA of 3.72 or lower. Subsequent injuries, especially a partial rotator cuff tear, are what really turned Woods into a reliever by 2007. At 33, he’s now pitching out of the Yankees bullpen.
