Two of baseball's top young pitchers suffered significant injuries in 2014. Jose Fernandez underwent Tommy John surgery and Garrett Richards had a procedure to repair a torn patellar tendon in his knee. What's their status for 2015?
Fernandez is ahead of schedule during his rehab from reconstructive elbow surgery and could return on June 15. On Sunday the right-hander threw off a mound for the first time since the surgery and threw 15 fastballs, according to Joe Frisaro of MLB.com. The 22-year-old had some positive things to say after the short throwing session.
"It feels really, really normal," Fernandez told Juan C. Rodriguez of the Miami Sun-Sentinel. "It feels like I've been up there for a long time. The strike zone was there. The location was there, in and out, right down the middle with the fastball. It was just like riding a bike. It was real easy. I'm real excited I got to do that again."
The recovery for Tommy John surgery is typically 12-18 months, so the fact that Fernandez may return in June means he's progressing at steady and promising pace.
In the American League, the Los Angeles Angels are pleased with Garrett Richards' rehab from his patellar tendon injury. The 26-year-old threw a 50-pitch bullpen session last week and is only expected to miss the first two or three weeks of the regular season. His surgery required 6-9 months of recovery time.
"There's a progression," manager Mike Scioscia told ESPN. "He has to pass every plateau. It's great that he's going to shoot for being ready. He's working very hard to be ready Opening Day, but he's not going to be ready Opening Day ... he's 2-to-3 weeks behind some guys."
Richards was a candidate for the AL Cy Young Award before he was shut down for the season after his injury occurred in late August. The Angels are going to need him atop the rotation with Jered Weaver if they want to stay competitive in the AL West.
Coincidentally, Fernandez was a Cy Young candidate in 2013 during his rookie season, but he did walk away as the NL Rookie of the Year. Richards was having a breakout year in his first full season as a starter in 2014 and, along with Fernandez, is among the top young pitchers in the MLB.
The sooner the Marlins and Angels can have these starter join their rotations, the better of they'll be.
