Call to the pen
Fansided

Houston Astros: Justin Verlander picked the right time for surgery

By James Simmons

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 08: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros in action against the New York Mets during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PORT ST. LUCIE, FL - MARCH 08: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros in action against the New York Mets during a spring training baseball game at Clover Park on March 8, 2020 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The Mets defeated the Astros 3-1. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

With the 2020 MLB season delayed Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander had a surgical procedure done on his groin to ensure he’ll be 100% by opening day.

For baseball fans, the downtime with no baseball has been excruciating. For the Houston Astros, the downtime most likely has been a nice escape from the constant trash can repartee. For Astros pitcher Justin Verlander the downtime was a great time to have his ailing groin worked on.

Verlander already missed one spring start because of tightness in his groin so with the start of the season in peril he decided to go ahead with the procedure. The normal recovery time is about six weeks leaving Verlander ample time to recover before the start of the abbreviated season.

More from Call to the Pen

With Gerrit Cole now pitching in New York, Justin Verlander is the lone ace on the Astros pitching staff. He will need to be healthy and on the field as much as possible to help anchor the Astros rotation.

We all know of the pitching exploits on the field. Verlander is a cagey veteran who can handle the media and shoulder some of the “Astrogate heckling” the team is going to endure this year. He has already made light of the situation a handful of times using his comedic stylings to take some of the pressure off.

This was considered a minor procedure though at the age of 37, with all the baseball miles Verlander has on his body, how well will he come back?

With each little nick and ding on the body, he faces the prospect of breaking down for longer periods of time.

Since coming to the Houston Astros in a trade deadline deal three years ago Justin Verlander is 42-15 with a 2.45 earned run average. He stumbled greatly in the postseason last year against the Washington Nationals to the tune of an 0-2 record and 5.73 ERA.

Next. Tom Brady: Future Hall of Fame QB, Nearly an Expo?. dark

Getting him healthy is important for many reasons as far as Astros brass is concerned

Home/Houston Astros