Joe Jordan confirmed RHP Drew Anderson had Tommy John surgery last week. Out for the year. #MiLB #Phillies
— Jay Floyd (@PhoulBallz) April 14, 2015
Injuries really suck. Anderson was in the back of my Top 30 prospects after a successful 2013 campaign in Williamsport. He dropped to #48 this year after an injury filled year in Lakewood. At his best Anderson had a fastball in the low 90s, a potential plus slider, and feel for a solid changeup. He was able to attack hitters and keep them off balance. Anderson is still relatively young (turned 21 in March) and was only draft in 2012 so he does have some time to get his feet back under him.
Some interesting tidbits of facts about Tommy John surgery:
—It is believed that 33% of MLB pitchers have had this surgery as of the start of the 2014 baseball season.
—It is not uncommon to be able to throw harder after surgery than they were ever able to before the surgery.
—Professional pitchers get back to the major leagues 87% of the time after they have the surgery completed.
—ERAs of pitchers that come back after Tommy John surgery are 0.60 higher upon return to baseball.
—60% of MLB pitchers require a UCL reconstruction within their first 5 years of playing professional baseball
—Once more than one Tommy John surgery is performed on an athlete, their chances of success drop to 33%.
—the chances of complications rise to 40% when there is more than one Tommy John surgery performed over an athlete’s lifetime.