Braves’ Gonzalez Ahead of Schedule
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Braves reliever Mike Gonzalez is well ahead of schedule in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Gonzalez has looked good
facing batters in extended spring training, and the hope is that he’ll be able to rejoin the Braves in mid-May. This, of course, would be prior to the one-year anniversary of Gonzalez having the surgery. The initial prognosis had him returning somewhere closer to the All-Star game.
This would be quite the lift for an injury-riddled Atlanta bullpen. The jury will be out on how effective Gonzalez can be coming off shoulder surgery, but with set-up man Peter Moylan most likely out for the seasonand closer Rafael Soriano currently on the shelf, the Braves ‘pen can use all the help they can get. If healthy, Mike Gonzalez can be filthy.
Filed under: Atlanta Braves
At first glance, this sounds like great news. However, I have to wonder if the Braves are rushing him back to soon.
We all know the normal prognosis requires a full year of rehabilitation and typically another year pitching before returning to pre-injury form.
Gonzalez is way ahead of the normal recovery period.
My personal view is, I’ll believe it when I see it.
Correct, Coach. Typical recovery time is 11-14 months…with the 14 months being on the safer side of things….You hope they don’t rush him b/c of the bullpen woes, only to lose him for a much longer period of time.