"Twins right-hander David Festa has been on the injured list since late July due to shoulder inflammation. Head trainer Nick Paparesta tells Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that noted surgeon Dr. Keith Meister believes Festa has neurological thoracic outlet syndrome. Festa is going to see another doctor and a formal plan will be mapped out after that."
"One type is known as venous or vascular TOS. While this is a serious medical condition often involving life-threatening blood clots, it seems to have less long-term impacts in terms of throwing a baseball. Merrill Kelly is the poster boy for recovering from this type of TOS surgery. Kelly went under the knife in 2020 but has since made 132 starts with a 3.59 earned run average. Zack Wheeler of the Phillies recently had a blood clot removed and was recommended for venous TOS surgery."
"The second type of TOS is neurogenic, which seems to have a larger impact on throwing ability. Paparesta used the word "neurological" to describe Festa's TOS, but it's possible he meant neurogenic. Stephen Strasburg, Chris Archer and Matt Harvey are some of the most famous example of pitchers who were diagnosed with neurogenic TOS and never really seemed to be the same."
David Festa has been on the injured list since late July with shoulder inflammation. Head trainer Nick Paparesta says noted surgeon Dr. Keith Meister believes Festa has neurological thoracic outlet syndrome. Festa will see another doctor and a formal treatment plan will be mapped out afterward. Thoracic outlet syndrome can significantly alter a pitcher's career. Two distinct varieties exist: venous (vascular) and neurogenic. Venous TOS often involves blood clots but may have less long-term impact on throwing, with Merrill Kelly recovering successfully and Zack Wheeler recently treated for a clot. Neurogenic TOS appears to have a larger impact on throwing ability, and several pitchers have not returned to prior form after diagnosis and surgery.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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