Dustin McGowan is pumped to be rejoining the MLB Toronto Blue Jays

Monday September 5, 2011 will be a day ingrained in the minds of both right-handed starting pitcher Dustin McGowan and Toronto Blue Jays fans for years to come. Out with a variety of shoulder injuries since August of 2008, Dustin McGowan received the much anticipated call up to the MLB earlier this morning. Once seen as the Blue Jays ace of the future, McGowan’s long and lonely road back to Toronto has ‘Hollywood Movie’ written all over it. Today we will be looking back at Dustin McGowan’s career since 2008.

Dustin McGowan made 19 starts in 2008, accumulating a record of 6-7 with 4.37 ERA. McGowan’s final start in the big leagues was against the Baltimore Orioles on July 8, 2008. During the game, McGowan only lasted four innings allowing four runs (two earned) while striking out two. After the game, it was revealed, that the big right hander from Savannah, Georgia had suffered a shoulder injury and would need to be shut down for the rest of the year. At the time, McGowan was expected to be back for the start of the 2009 season, however as luck would have it, he wouldn’t be making his return, until three years and roughly two months later.

To say injuries have been a problem in Dustin McGowan’s recovery would be an understatement. When the big right-hander had surgery on July 31, 2008 to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, it was also discovered that McGowan had a torn labrum. Theoretically, the two injuries should have healed by May of 2009 the latest, yet McGowan who has diabetes, suffered many setbacks in his recovery. The worst setback of all, came exactly a year after his last big league start, as on July 9, 2009 during routine fielding drills, McGowan would tear cartilage in his left knee, forcing the Blue Jays to shut him down for a short again.

Dustin McGowan is all smiles after bouncing back from surgeries

If you thought things could not get much worse, think again, as in October of 2009 while playing catch off a 115 foot mound, McGowan suffered dead arm syndrome in his throwing arm. With things unclear, both Dustin McGowan and the Toronto Blue Jays had to consider the possibility that he may need to retire.

Fast forward to July of 2011, and Dustin McGowan was back pitching in the minor leagues, this time with the Dunedin Blue Jays.  McGowan, pitched seven games with the Dunedin Blue Jays recording no wins and two losses, with an ERA of 2.87 in 15.2 innings pitched, giving up 13 hits, five runs all earned, and striking out 17 while only walking seven and holding opponents to a 228 batting average.

With the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, McGowan had a record of 0-2 with a 2.47 ERA

Dustin would stay in Dunedin for a month, until August 5th, 2011, when he was transferred to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Double-A team. Through five starts with New Hampshire, McGowan has seen both an increase in workload and results, including a record of no wins and two losses a 2.47 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched while giving up 18 hits, seven runs, six earned, two home runs while striking out 18 walking seven and holding opponents to a .247 batting average.

According to various reports, Dustin McGowan is available to pitch for the Toronto Blue Jays starting tomorrow Tuesday September 6, 2011. What isn’t clear however, is if the Blue Jays coaching staff plan to use McGowan as a starter and see how he fares, or a much needed reliever out of the bullpen.

Either way, we at JaysProspects couldn’t be happier that Dustin McGowan has completed his long way road back to the MLB. Here is to an injury-free career the rest of the way!