Chin Up, Stephen Strasburg: If These Players Came Back, So Can You

When news broke last week that Nationals phenom Steven Strasburg needed Tommy John surgery and likely won't throw a pitch in the Major Leagues until 2012, the mood around D.C. was predictably apocalyptic.

For a team that hasn't finished better than .500 since their 2005 move to Washington, losing their crown jewel in Strasburg seemed like an unusually cruel blow to Nats fans. All hope is not lost however.

As a fan of all things Philadelphia, I know all about always expecting the worst from your favorite teams, but after more than 30 years of experimentation, Tommy John Surgery boasts a success rate of more than 80%, and at just 22 years of age, Strasburg's odds of recovery are even better. 

In fact, as a present to Nats fans everywhere, here are ten players that not only returned from Tommy John surgery, but thrived because of it.

No. 10: Randy Wolf

Apart from the fact that they are both Major League Pitchers who blew out their elbows, Randy Wolf and Strasburg are about as different as two players can be.

While Strasburg can reach triple digits on the radar gun, Wolf needs to rev up just to hit 90. That hasn't stopped the Wolf-Man from becoming a very successful Major League pitcher, earning more than 100 career victories and a spot on the 2003 all-star team. 

Of those 111 wins, 58 of them came after he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2005.

Now, nearly five years removed from his surgery, Wolf is aging like a fine wine, earning double digit wins in each of the last three seasons.

No. 9: Paul Byrd

Another diminutive former Phillie, Byrd and Wolf are cut from the same mold. And much like Wolf, Byrd has thrived post Tommy John surgery.

After finishing the 2002 season with a career high 17 wins, Byrd underwent the procedure and re-surfaced in Atlanta during the 2004 season, making 19 starts and winning eight games with an ERA under four.

Byrd hung around for five more seasons, including a 15 win season for the 2007 Indians that finished the season one game shy of the World Series.

The Nationals are understandably hoping that Strasburg becomes more than a fringe starter like Byrd was, but if someone of his limited physical abilities can make it back, they have to like Strasburg's chances.

No. 8: A.J. Burnett

Forget for a second his 9-12 record and his 5.17 ERA with the Yankees this season.

Instead, remember Burnett as the highly sought after prospect for the Marlins, considered more valuable in 2003 than both Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis.

2003 was the same year that Burnett underwent Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2004 season, including the Marlins World Series title.

However, Burnett was one of the few players to actually come back from Tommy John surgery stronger than before, hitting 102-mph on the radar gun during his first season back.

After moving to the Toronto in 2006, Burnett finally began living up to the hype, culminating in 2008 when he lead the American League in starts (34), strikeouts (231) and wins (18).

No. 7: Rafael Soriano

The first reliever to make the list, Soriano was little more than a middling prospect before his 2004 Tommy John surgery.

Since his surgery, Soriano has quietly become one of the more reliable closers in the league, saving 27 games for the Braves last season.

This season Soriano made his first All-Star game appearance, and is currently leading the American League with 39 saves for the Rays, who happen to boast the best record in the Majors.

No. 6: Chris Carpenter

In 2005, Chris Carpenter went 21-5 and was the National League Cy Young award winner.

The next season Carpenter proved he was no fluke, going 15-8 with a 3.07 ERA.

That's when the wheels came off, in the form of a blown-out arm.

Carpenter made just four starts over the next two seasons as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, yet when he finished his comeback during the 2009 season, he did it in a big way.

Big as in 28 starts, 14 wins, a very impressive 2.24 ERA and a Comeback Player of the Year award. Carpenter has continued his success this year, pitching his way to a 14-4 record. 

No. 5: Josh Johnson

Attention Nationals fans: Josh Johnson is is the pitcher you should hope Steven Strasburg becomes in 2012.

Like Strasburg, Johnson was a highly touted prospect... one that blew out his elbow at a very young age. And if Strausburg can come back as well as Johnson did, the Nationals should consider themselves lucky.

Four starts into the 2007 season, Johnson tore a tendon in his elbow. In one of the quickest Tommy John turnarounds on record, he was back in the big leagues 11 months later.

Since his return, Johnson has won 33 games compared to just 11 losses, and is a two-time All-Star. This season, Johnson has put himself on a short list of National League Cy Young candidates, winning 11 games with an ERA of 2.36.

No. 4: David Wells

Boomer may be best known for his brash personality and his off the field antics, but the portly southpaw won 239 career games and remains one of the poster boys' for Tommy John surgery.

Wells won at least 10 games in 14 seasons, including a career high 20 in 2000.

Throw in three All-Star appearences, two World Series titles and a perfect game (which may or may not have been pitched while he was hungover), and Wells' resume is one that Strasburg would undoubteddly be happy to emulate. (Minus the hangover that is.)

No.3: Tommy John

I have few rules in life, but here is one of them: When you have a surgery named after you, you belong in the discussion of athletes who benefited the most from it.

What people don't know is that before, and after his surgery, John was one hell of a pitcher. 

In 1974, John was one of the best pitchers on the planet, starting the season with a 13-3 record before snapping a tendon in his elbow.

What happened after saved the careers of  Strasburg, everyone on this list, and countless other athletes across the country. Dr. Fran Jobe preformed the surgery, taking a tendon from his right elbow and inserting it in the southpaw's throwing elbow.

At the time of his surgery, John had 124 career victories.

He added another 164 post-surgery.

John went on to pitch until 1988, 26 seasons in all.

No. 2: John Smoltz

When Braves pitcher John Smoltz hurt his arm during the 2000 season, the righty had two options.

With four All-Star appearances to go along with a Cy Young award in 1996, Smoltz could either retire and hope his accolades merited a bust in Cooperstown, or he could have Tommy John surgery.

Smoltz opted for the surgery.

And fans in Atlanta are still smiling because of that decision.

In an effort to help his arm rehab, the Braves made Smoltz their closer when he returned in 2002. All Smoltz did was respond with a National League record 55 saves.

After two more successful season as the Braves' stopper, Smoltz returned to the rotation and led the National League with 16 wins in 2006.

No. 1: Mariano Rivera

As long as we are dreaming big, what better way to end this countdown than with the greatest closer of all-time and one of baseball's most important players in the last 25 years.

In 1992, a fringe Yankees pitching prospect decided he wanted to learn how to throw a slider. The result? A torn ulnar ligament and Tommy John surgery. Because of this injury, the pitcher was not drafted by either the Rockies or Marlins in the 1992 expansion draft, despite being left unprotected by the Yankees.

By now I'm sure you know, that pitching prospect was Mariano Rivera.

It seems silly to list his career stats, but his 553 career saves, 11 All-Star appearances and five World Series titles needs to be mentioned. 

Time will obviously tell whether Strasburg can come close to matching the numbers that Rivera has put up, or anyone one else on this this list for that matter.

But the fact remains that a full recovery from Tommy John surgery can be done, and I'm already dreading seeing Strasburg take the hill against the Phillies in 2012.