Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. took some time to speak with the media on Tuesday, March 14, about returning from a strained right forearm muscle.
So far, so good. McCullers says he's pain free, and has begun lifting weights and throwing a baseball in anticipation of an April return.
The elbow injury occurred on Feb. 14 after throwing a bullpen session, and McCullers experienced pain the very next day. Following an MRI performed a week later, Dr. Neal ElAttrache -- who performed the right-handers' Tommy John surgery in 2019 -- confirmed the diagnosis of a strained forearm muscle.
"Very low grade," McCullers told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. "They were hesitant to even call it a strain. It wasn't even a Grade 1 or anything like that. I threw that bullpen and basically maybe too much intensity here at camp.
"Sometimes guys deal with stuff. No different than hamstrings or stuff like that for a position player. Just maybe did a little but too much, too soon. I wasn't ready for it, I guess. I thought I was, but I guess I wasn't."
According to McTaggart, McCullers is planning to speak with Astros athletic trainer Jeremiah Randall about a plan to speed-up the process of getting him ready for game day action.
"I'll get a couple of catch games under me and get to where we feel comfortable going out to the field, throwing every day and make a plan from there," McCullers said.
McCullers will begin the 2023 season on the injured list. He missed the entire 2019 season following Tommy John Surgery and had to miss the first four months of last season due to being on the injured list as well.
The 29-year-old righty did return for the end of the 2022 regular season, garnering a 4-2 record with a 2.27 ERA over eight starts. McCullers also had three postseasons starts, including a start to forget in Game 3 of the World Series -- a game in which he gave up five homeruns to the Philadelphia Phillies and left the game after 4.1 innings pitched and a 14.54 ERA.
Regardless of the shaky World Series start in Philadelphia, everyone in Houston knows McCullers is more than capable of being one of the best pitchers in the league.
Hopefully, with proper rest and rehabilitation -- the dominant McCullers that Astros fans and players alike have grown to love and adore will shine on the diamond in 2023.
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