Here's some good news for Washington Nationals fans: Stephen Strasburg's rehab is going well. The young phenom was on a conference call with reporters earlier Monday to provide an update on his recovery from Tommy John Surgery in early September. Strasburg said he appears to be on schedule and will begin throwing in January.
Via Ben Goessling of MASNSports.com:
Strasburg said he expects to start throwing sometime in January, and will report to spring training in Viera, Fla., with the rest of the Nationals' pitchers and catchers. He's still doing physical therapy and strength work, not baseball activities, but he'll begin throwing in San Diego before heading east.
Strasburg added that the reason doctors have not declared him ahead of schedule is because they want to make sure they don't "get my hopes up." He does not have an exact timeline yet, but the fact that he is expected to begin practice throwing by January is a good sign.
Strasburg has already been ruled out for the entire 2011 season as he recovers from the surgery.