Future Hall of Famer John Smoltz Returns to the Major Leagues

It is an exciting time coming up for veteran John Smoltz and for the Boston Red Sox. After a year of ups and downs and question marks, Smoltz is set to make his first start after shoulder surgery on Thursday June 25th. Smoltz will face the Washington Nationals but has to make one more rehab in Triple-A before he is completely cleared to once again start in the Major Leagues. The big question for the Red Sox has to be, who will Smoltz replace in the rotation? Well he actually may not have to replace anybody.

While Boston has five very dependable starters in the rotation right now, the time only has one day off from now up to the All-Star break. So the team has not ruled out the option of going with a six man rotation for the month including Smoltz, Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Tim Wakefield, Brad penny and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Terry Francona has mentioned that this would not be a long term solution but it may work during the hectic schedule of the next month. On the whole though, it may leave pitchers a little bit rusty and throw them off their usual schedule, so we will have to wait and see what the team actually does. However, having a six man rotation will give them a good look at everyone, which will make it easier to make a decision of who to take out of the rotation later on.

Smoltz himself could not be more excited after returning to the Major Leagues. He hasn’t pitched since June 2^nd, 2008 when he left a game and then had surgery on his right labrum just a week later. Smoltz signed with Boston in January, which was a significant change and ended his career with the Braves. He pitched for Atlanta since 1987 and has a career record with the team of 210-147 and has compiled over 3,000 strikeouts. He is not ready to sit back on his accomplishments however and he is excited to do even more and help Boston make a run to the World Series.

With the Atlanta Braves heading to Fenway Park for the weekend, Smoltz is just missing a chance to pitch against his former team. This is exactly how the Red Sox planned it as they felt that his first start should be a bit more relaxing than it would be facing his old team. Manager Terry Francona also planned it perfectly so that Smoltz will face a National League team during Interleague play, which will make it easier for him to adjust to the American League game after pitching 20 plus years in the NL.

While there has been no decision on the 6 man rotation or who Smoltz will replace, he is taking the first start from Matsuzaka on the 25^th. Dice-K has been the pitcher who is struggling the most right now and looks to be the odd man out come the all star break if Smoltz can return to form and impress his new team.