{"id":96723,"date":"2025-03-03T11:59:22","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T16:59:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=96723"},"modified":"2025-03-03T11:59:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T16:59:22","slug":"sandy-alcantara-comeback-return-tommy-john-surgery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/03\/03\/sandy-alcantara-comeback-return-tommy-john-surgery\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Cy Young Winner Could Reclaim His Elite Status This Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Few narratives in baseball resonate as powerfully as a comeback story, and none is more compelling than that of right-hander Sandy Alcantara<\/a>. After a season marked by setbacks and rehabilitation, the former Cy Young winner is poised to make his long-awaited return to the mound, potentially redefining his legacy and reinvigorating the Miami Marlins’ starting rotation.<\/p>\n

Peter Bendix, Marlins president of baseball operations, shared, “Sandy looks strong and healthy\u2014and he feels great!”<\/p>\n

Returning from Tommy John surgery is never easy, but a fully healthy Alcantara is set to continue climbing the Marlins’ franchise leaderboards. He already ranks among the club\u2019s all-time greats in multiple categories and is primed to surpass some big names this season.<\/p>\n

Sandy Alcantara’s Comeback Year<\/h2>\n

Alcantara won the 2022 National League Cy Young Award<\/a> and also finished 10th in MVP voting. He posted a 2.28 ERA and 207 strikeouts across 228 2\/3 innings, along with a league-leading 8.0 bWAR. However, Alcantara wasn’t as effective the following year, going 7-12 with a 4.14 ERA before missing all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery<\/a>. But now, fully recovered, Alcantara is back on the mound, throwing 99 mph with elite control\u2014a promising sign for his 2025 season. Known for his ability to generate swings and misses with a deceiving changeup and nasty slider, Alcantara also boasts a high groundball rate with his sinker. Even the best hitters struggle against his four-seamer when it\u2019s on the edge of the strike zone.<\/p>\n

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Sandy Alcantara made another Spring start, and the stuff continues to be brilliant..<\/p>\n

That changeup is ridiculous!<\/p>\n

[image or embed]<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Thomas Nestico (@tjstats.nesti.co<\/a>) February 28, 2025 at 3:41 PM<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n