Chien-Ming Wang's long road back to the Major Leagues is finally complete. Wang completed his final rehabilitation start in AAA-Syracuse and will be the starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals when they take on the New York Mets on Friday, the team announced.
Wang has not pitched in the majors since July 4, 2009, when he was a member of the New York Yankees. The Nationals signed him in the winter before the 2010 season hoping he might return by then. He did not, but the Nationals signed him again last winter. Now, it appears he will finally be able to make do on those contracts.
Wang suffered a devastating shoulder injury and has not pitched in the majors since. His expected return means the Nationals will have to banish someone from the starting rotation, either by trade or demotion. The likely candidate is Tom Gorzelanny, who again struggled on Saturday.