Strasburg, Harper, LaRoche all have "successful" surgery

The Nationals announced this morning that three players - Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Adam LaRoche - underwent "successful" surgery this week. All three guys are expected to be ready for the start of spring training. Strasburg underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his right elbow on Friday. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Strasburg is scheduled to resume his throwing program in four to six weeks and is expected to be ready for spring training. This, of course, is the second time in a little more than three years that Strasburg has had surgery on his right elbow. He had Tommy John surgery in the fall of 2010, but this surgery is considered a "cleanup procedure" and is clearly not on the same level severity-wise. Harper's surgery was Wednesday to "debride and repair" the bursa in his left knee, which bothered him for much of the season. His surgery was performed by Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo. Like Strasburg, Harper will resume workouts in four to six weeks and is expected to be ready for spring training. Harper ran into the Dodger Stadium wall May 13, eventually leading to a month-long stint on the disabled list due to bursitis in the knee. Even after returning to action, Harper clearly wasn't at full strength for much of the season. He batted .303/.400/.622 with 10 homers in 35 games prior to running into the wall in Los Angeles, and .262/.356/.433 with 10 homers in 83 games after the scary collision. Also Wednesday, LaRoche underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. The procedure was performed by Nationals medical director Dr. Wiemi Douoguih at the Washington Hospital Center. LaRoche will resume workouts in four to six weeks (there's that timetable again) and is expected to be ready for spring training. No word on whether the Nats received a "buy two, get one free" deal on these procedures.