On average, it takes major-league pitchers 12 to 14 months to return from Tommy John surgery, a grueling, mind-numbing rehab that tests a man’s stamina and patience. The procedure to prepare the ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow joint is a miracle of modern medicine, but it is not without risks. There are steps to take, phases to complete, and the most important asset of all is time.
In the end, it took left-hander Jason Vargas just 13 months to climb back on a major-league mound after undergoing surgery last July. The return wasn’t quick enough to tip the scales in a Royals season that will end before the playoffs for the first time since 2013.