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Washington Nationals: Patrick Corbin’s path to D.C.

By Ross Shinberg

ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 14: Patrick Corbin #46 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the second inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 14, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 14: Patrick Corbin #46 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the second inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 14, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Washington Nationals Patrick Corbin
Washington Nationals Patrick Corbin /

The Tommy John Surgery

Coming off of a great 2013 season in which he earned an all-star bid, Patrick Corbin suffered damage to his ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow in Spring Training of 2014.

Corbin looked to build on 3.41 ERA over 200 innings the previous year, but his injury forced him to miss the entire 2014 season and the first half of the 2015 season after undergoing the Tommy John procedure.

It is not an uncommon event for the Nationals to employ recipients of TJ surgery. Stephen Strasburg infamously had the surgery in 2010. Most recently for the Nats, Joe Ross needed the operation in the summer of 2017 and returned towards the end of last season.

Other notable Nationals pitchers to have the surgery include Jordan Zimmermann, Erick Fedde, Shawn Kelley, Sammy Solis, and the recently acquired Trevor Rosenthal.

Corbin came back strong in 2015, pitching to a 3.60 ERA in 16 starts, adding 0.6 strikeouts per nine innings compared to his 2013 season. It took a few down years in 2016 and 2017 for Corbin to completely recover his 2013 form. When he put it all together, it turned into something special.

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