Let the Strasburg watch begin -- again.
Stephen Strasburg said he "stirred up the baseball world" before needing elbow surgery earlier this month and looks forward to returning to the majors in about a year.
The sooner the better for Nationals fans, who have gone into hibernation for the rest of the season, and possibly beyond. Without their star pitcher to watch on the mound, Nats fans have been staying away from Nats Park. The team recently recorded its worst single-game attendance in Washington since baseball returned to D.C.
In his first public comments since the Sept. 3 Tommy John operation, Strasburg said in a conference call Tuesday he had his cast removed about two weeks ago, has been getting his range of motion back, and "should be starting the actual rehab process shortly."
While waiting for that, Strasburg has been doing "some sort of workout every single day" to stay in shape.
The No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft made an electrifying debut for the Nationals on June 8, with 14 strikeouts. He went 5-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 12 starts before getting injured.
