According to the Tigers Verlander is going to need six weeks of rehabilitation. He will miss most, but according to the Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski not all, of Spring Training and is expected to be ready for the start of the 2014 season. In a statement recently released by the Tigers Dombrowski said,
“We fully anticipate Justin to participate in spring training and be in a position to compete at the beginning of the 2014 season.”
With pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to Spring Training in close to a month this seems like a very optimistic outlook but Verlander is known for his diligent off-season conditioning program. And Tigers manager Brad Ausmus believes this will help him in his recovery. He told the Free Press last week that he was not very concerned,
“Despite the fact this is a little bit of a setback physically, his previous workouts will probably allow him to catch up to speed much quicker.”
Verlander has been a workhorse for the Tigers since his major league debut in 2005 and has been their Opening Day starter for the past six years. Even if Verlander isn’t ready by Opening Day the Tigers still have a very good rotation behind him. Even after trading Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals this winter the Tigers still have 2013 AL Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, 2013 AL ERA leader Anibal Sanchez and young Rick Porcello, who while only turning 25 this year, already has 149 big league starts and a propensity for eliciting ground balls from batters.
Even Verlander himself believes he will be ready to start the season tweeting Thursday,
“Thanks for the support regarding my surgery today. It went well and now my only focus is to get ready for 2014! #determined” To learn more check out MLB Nation - delivering the latest news, insights, and analysis from around the league.
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