There is nothing good about a starting pitcher needing Tommy John surgery. It puts them out of commission for 12-18 months, it leaves a pit of uncertainty for the team and their fans, and for the pitcher it’s an emotionally exhausting, heartbreaking punch in the gut. That’s before the grueling work of rehabbing the injury even begins.
When the Tigers learned they would be losing former Rookie of the Year pitcher Michael Fulmer for the 2019 season — after three separate opinions just to make sure it truly was the only option — a flurry of questions began to emerge.