Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dustin McGowan, whose season never really got started after a myriad of problems derailed what appeared to be progress in his recovery from yet another injury, has been shut down for the year and scheduled for exploratory arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. The prospect of such an event happening was neither unlikely nor unforeseeable.
And here’s why: Dustin McGowan has had a tremendous amount of difficulty staying healthy. This seems to be a point of contention among Blue Jays fans, but it shouldn’t be. Writing about these difficulties isn’t akin to criticism of the player. No one is questioning his drive to get healthy or work ethic in preventing harm. He’s merely been dealt a shitty hand in the card game of genetics. His body simply can’t stand up to the rigors of practicing and performing baseball at the Major League level.
