Stephen Strasburg’s wrist nerve problem, which ended his 2020 season after five innings, would be compounded each time he threw a baseball, he said on Sunday, and “would basically go from numbness in my thumb to numbness throughout my hand”.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since before it closed in August, the Washington Nationals star said the problem was gone immediately after the 15-minute carpal tunnel surgery.
The World Series 2019 MVP started preparing for this season much earlier than usual, making a light catch on November 1st instead of mid-December, and launching bulls in early January, rather than at the end of month.
“In terms of endurance and endurance, I feel that I am much more advanced than I have been [been] in previous years, “explained the right-handed owner.” I wanted to give myself some extra time to work on some mechanical things and be ready for the first day. “
It was him: the 32-year-old was playing away from a mound alongside teammates during Friday practice.
“He’s one of our workhorses. And not seeing him outside was difficult. But for me, if he got hurt and solved a problem, last year would have been the moment,” said coach Dave Martinez. “I’m glad he fixed it and I’m happy that he feels great.”
Strasburg said the nature of the timetable affected by last year’s pandemic – spring training was halted in March and teams resumed preparations in July – was difficult for him.
There was a period of uncertainty about when the so-called “summer camp” would begin, so Strasbourg would launch itself into the network to try to stay ready.
It was when things started again that the numbness first appeared.
“If I had known it was going to start when it started, I definitely wouldn’t have picked up a baseball for a while,” he said. “It ended up hurting me more than it helped me.”
Game notes
Martinez said that SS Trea Turner “possibly” could move from the lead to second or third place on the roster. “We are doing a lot of different lineups, different numbers, talking to a lot of our analytical people. Honestly, I would like to get [CF Victor] Robles is at the top of the lineup, even if it is only against left-handed throwing. “… Nationals would love to avoid the kind of bad start they managed to overcome in 2019 (19-31), so as they do Martinez said he can ask players in position to play seven, eight or nine entries from the last 10 days of exhibition games. “I want these guys to be ready on May 1st on April 1st,” he said.