Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander underwent core muscle surgery two weeks ago and while Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said that the pitcher is doing great in his recovery, he didn't rule out the fact that Verlander may not be ready for Opening Day on March 31 and he may miss some of the regular season as he recovers from the operation.
According to MLive.com, Dombrowski said at Comerica Park on Thursday as the Tigers kicked off their two-day Winter Caravan tour that the right-hander may not be ready to go when the season kicks off in just over two months.
"He's doing great," Dombrowski told MLive.com. "I'm not concerned for him being out an extended period. If he misses any time of the season, it would only be a very short time period. I'm not ready to say that he will. But he's doing very well."
Verlander--who is highly motivated--will do everything he can to work his way back from the injury but Dombrowski said the team doesn't want him to over exert himself and risk coming back too soon.
"We don't want him to push too hard," Dombrowski said via MLive.com. "We want him to follow the doctor's schedule. He's been under the doctor's guidance. He's stayed there so far. He's been doing phenomenal. He's already moving around. They say he's at the point where he might start doing some movement drills and all beginning next week."
Verlander underwent the surgery on Jan. 9 and was expected to be sidelined for six-to-eight weeks which would make his expected recovery to be late February or early March, but there is still some doubt about whether or not he'll hold to the timetable. Pitchers and catchers report to spring training Feb. 13 while the regular season kicks off on March 31 when the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals.
Verlander won the Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player in 2011 and finished second in 2012. He has started six straight Opening Days for the Tigers but the honor may also go to Max Scherzer, who won the 2013 Cy Young Award.
Verlander finished 13-12 with a 3.46 ERA in 2013 with 217 strikeouts and a 1.315 WHIP.
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