Much has been made of the A’s issues with pitchers having to undergo ligament replacement in the pitching elbow, or as it’s better known, Tommy John surgery.
Jarrod Parker has not pitched since 2013, twice having undergone Tommy John surgery. This year alone, Felix Doubront and Chris Bassitt have had Tommy John procedures. Each man will miss all of 2016. Just when or if any of the three will pitch in 2017 is up in the air.
There is an upside to all this Tommy John angst. His name is Fernando Rodriguez.
Rodriguez could hit 96, maybe 97 mph on the radar gun on a good day in his first three big league seasons with the Angels, then the Astros.