Harrison out for season, surgery likely
Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison has been diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome in his left shoulder and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Harrison has not yet committed to having surgery but it could be done as early as Monday. The minimum recovery time is at least two months.
The injury is similar to what both Hank Blalock and Kenny Rogers had earlier in their careers. Rogers had the surgery in 2002 in the second of three tours with the Rangers. He experienced full recovery and averaged 15 wins a season for the next five years.
Harrison, who has been on the disabled list twice this season with shoulder problems, experienced more discomfort in a two-inning medical rehabilitation assignment with Frisco on Wednesday. That prompted further tests on his shoulder. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome is when a rib bone compresses on a nerve, causing pain and numbness in the arm.
T.R. Sullivan
Toby
That stinks. I’d hoped for Matt to take the next step this season. Some postives are that we’ve had a pitcher make a full recovery from this before, Matt’s still young and at least it’s not a rotator cuff.
Too bad – but overall it doesn’t change anythng as it relates to the team currently on the field. Harrison has been on the DL for awhile and frankly, Tommy Hunter got his opportunity and has made the most of it.
I think this is just another embarrassment for the Rangers medical staff. T.R. gave two examples of when this injury occurred to a Ranger player and we can’t diagnose it right away? Or at least run the ‘additional tests’ weeks and weeks ago when he was first experiencing the numbness? Nolan Ryan is going to soon find out that it’s not conditioning that is causing injury, it’s the medical staff’s inability to properly diagnose an injury.
I am not sure what you are basing your statement on, “just another embarrassemnt for the Rangers medical staff”. Harrison underwent a MRI on Jun 26 which showed no structural damage and then referred to a neuologist, to be seen on Jun 29. Since the results of the neuologist’s findings are now unknown, how does that equate to an embarrassment to the Rangers medical staff? After rehab, he threw 70 pitches during batting practice on Jul 19. Harrison stated that his command was a little off but thought he threw well. On Jul 22, he pitched two innings med rehab and had more discomfort, further tests on his shoulder were conducted, equaling TOS. All that happen in less than one month. Had Harrison experienced discomfort earlier, I suspect further testing would have been done earlier. Ranger fans were hoping for Harrison to have a good season but injuries, at times, can not be avoided. Having surgery now, he’ll be ready to go next season. So your statement “it’s the medical staff’s inability to properly diagnose an injury”, holds little validity.
Daniel you might try googling something before you pop off. TOS is congenital. In addition to that it’s mostly without symptoms until it’s too late and something has to be done If you’re not an athlete you can live with it for years and about the worst thing will be working with your hands above your head.
Great game tonight for the guys. Feldman was awesome! I Believe!