Stephen Strasburg pledges to return in top form.

[elleng]

He pledged to work "as hard as I possibly can" to return with the same brilliance he exhibited this season.

Chances are, he will. For assurance, he could look only a few lockers to his right in the Nationals clubhouse, to Jordan Zimmermann's stall. Zimmermann underwent Tommy John surgery last August and, after a grueling year of rehab, climbed the mound at Nationals Park on Thursday night and pitched four innings against the St. Louis Cardinals.

"I felt the same when it was done," Zimmermann said. "My delivery was the same. Everything feels normal."

Strasburg said he found solace in "all the guys in the big leagues who are Cy Young contenders, Hall of Famers who have had this surgery." Roughly 85 percent of pitchers who receive the surgery return to full strength, and many - 10 this season - become all-stars.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/27/AR2010082704779.html?hpid=topnews

[Kingofalldems]

1. Good luck Stephen

Come back stronger than ever.

[Mojambo]

2. Some guys make it back full strength or better, some guys don't. n/t

[elleng]

3. Saw that:

Roughly 85 percent of pitchers who receive the surgery return to full strength, and many - 10 this season - become all-stars.