Fantasy Baseball Player Profile: Can Francisco Liriano Fully Return To Form?

Francisco Liriano was dynamite in his rookie year.

However, before the next season could start, he injured his arm and had Tommy John surgery.

It was a really tough break for a guy with such potential; yet the Twins faithful, as well as others around the league, had confidence that he would return to form as the ace of the Twins staff.

That has not quite happened.

He had a 12-3 record with a 2.16 ERA and 1.00 WHIP his rookie year. The surgery put a quick end to that.

Liriano returned in 2008 with a quality season, compiling a 3.91 ERA with a 1.39 WHIP in a half season’s work, leading everyone to believe that he would return to form in his first full year back from injury.

Not so fast.

Liriano had an abysmal season in ’09, posting a 5-13 record with a 5.80 ERA and 1.36 WHIP, with perhaps the most disturbing stat, walking 66 batters to surpass his career season high.

However, Liriano returned back to fantasy relevancy last year, putting up some impressive numbers. He threw for a 14-10 record with a 3.62 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 201 SO—by far his best season since his rookie campaign.

Today, the question is: Will history repeat itself with him posting less than mediocre numbers, or will he return to form as the ace he was touted to be just five short years ago?

To me, it appears that Liriano may have worked out the kinks and has become fully healthy, despite a sore shoulder scare early this spring.

Sometimes, it just take two to three years to fully recover from Tommy John and it looks like that was clearly the case here for Liriano.

I would not be surprised if Liriano puts together a Cy Young worthy season and I will be drafting him in every league I can get him in.

At age 27, Liriano is going to live up to the full potential that he was once touted to have.

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NL East

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