Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said this afternoon that ace right-hander Stephen Strasburg will be on an innings limit for 2012, similar to the one that Jordan Zimmermann dealt with this season.
“He will be on an innings limit like Jordan next year and I’ve already semi-calculated it in my mind with our medical staff and our pitching people,” Rizzo said. “We’ve already discussed it, but suffice it to say, he’ll be on some sort of an innings limit next year.”
Strasburg, who is just over a year out from Tommy John surgery, has thrown 38 1/3 innings this season between the major leagues and the minor leagues. He will make one more start this season, Wednesday in Florida in the season finale, and will then go through a normal offseason program. The Nationals are not planning to send him to the Arizona Fall League or Instructional League to get more innings.
“I think Wednesday, when he’s done pitching, he won’t pitch anymore,” Rizzo said. “I think he’s had plenty of innings. That was the number I had set going into this year. He’s pitched great. And I like it the day after when he says it feels good, that’s the best thing for me.”
Jordan Zimmerman, who was limited to 161 1/3 innings this season, threw 70 2/3 innings in 2010 but was also optioned to the minor leagues to continue building back his strength when his 30-day rehab assignment was over. The Nationals are comfortable with the number that Strasburg has thrown this season and will calculate where that limit will be for 2012 over the offseason.
