Baseball is a game of inches, but sometimes those inches can cost players months or even years of their careers. Injuries are an unfortunate reality in MLB, yet some players manage to overcome the biggest setbacks. Let’s look at ten MLB stars who fought their way back from devastating injuries to reclaim their spots on the diamond.
Buster Posey
When a devastating collision at home plate shattered Posey’s leg in 2011, skeptics questioned if the Giants’ backstop would ever crouch behind the plate again. But the following season, he returned and dominated, capturing the National League batting crown with a stellar .336 average and leading San Francisco to World Series glory.
Stephen Strasburg
The baseball world held its breath when the Nationals’ prized arm underwent Tommy John surgery in 2010. Through hours and hours of rehab and unwavering determination, Strasburg engineered a masterful return. His journey reached its pinnacle in 2019, earning World Series MVP honors and validating Washington’s faith in their ace.
David Wright
Few injuries are worse than spinal stenosis, which threatened to rob baseball of the Mets’ beloved captain in 2015. Though the condition ultimately shortened his career, Wright’s perseverance culminated in an emotional final appearance in 2018, leaving a mark on New York’s faithful.
Yu Darvish
Missing the entire 2015 season after Tommy John surgery left many wondering if Darvish’s electric arsenal would ever return. The Japanese sensation answered emphatically, ascending to new heights with the Cubs in 2020. His runner-up finish in Cy Young voting proved the effects of modern medicine and relentless work ethic.
Dustin Pedroia
The heart of Boston’s infield battled chronic knee issues that would have ended lesser careers instantly. While the persistent setbacks eventually forced his retirement in 2021, Pedroia’s tireless rehabilitation attempts and burning desire to compete one final time is the spirit of Red Sox nation.
Jose Fernandez
Tommy John surgery couldn’t dim the brilliance of Miami’s young phenom. After missing most of 2014 and 2015, Fernandez returned with his signature flair, posting a dominant 2.86 ERA and earning an All-Star selection in 2016. His tragic passing only magnified the impact of his inspiring comeback.
Corey Seager
When both Tommy John surgery and hip problems sidelined Seager in 2018, the Dodgers’ shortstop faced a grueling path back. His response? A storybook return culminating in NLCS and World Series MVP honors in 2020, proving that patience in recovery yields the sweetest victories.
Justin Verlander
At 37, a torn UCL typically spells retirement. Verlander rewrote that narrative, attacking his rehabilitation with trademark intensity. His 2022 campaign resulted in a third Cy Young Award, demonstrating that championship hearts know no age limit when paired with advanced medical care.
Miguel Cabrera
A ruptured biceps tendon in 2018 threatened to rob baseball of one of its purest hitters. While power numbers declined, Miggy’s legendary status grew as he battled through discomfort to join the elite 3,000-hit club in 2022, cementing his place among baseball’s immortals.
Rocco Baldelli
Facing a mysterious mitochondrial disorder that sapped his energy, Baldelli’s promising career seemed finished in 2005. Yet the talented outfielder fought back multiple times, culminating in a dramatic home run during the 2008 World Series. His persistence against an invisible enemy is uplifting, to say the least.
10 MLB Stars Who Got Through Career-Threatening Injuries