Former All-Star Tries Comeback After 5 Years Out Of Baseball

He's been out of the major leagues since 2018, but now, finally healthy again after major shoulder surgery in 2019, former Baltimore Orioles All-Star pitcher Chris Tillman is ready to give it another shot in the big leagues.

Former All-Star RHP Chris Tillman has been 88-90mph as he returns from shoulder surgery. Tillman has been training at Cressey Sports Performance in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and anticipates throwing for scouts soon.

— Britt Ghiroli (@Britt_Ghiroli) January 9, 2023

Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reports that Tillman has been hitting 88-90 mph, and is expected to begin throwing for major league scouts soon.

Beginning in 2012, Tillman had a tremendous five-year run with the Orioles, going 65-33, with an ERA of about 3.75 and a WHIP below 1.25. He was an All-Star in 2013 at the age of 25. 

Now, he'll be turning 35 when the 2023 major league season begins, but his arm won't have the wear and tear of having pitched some 600 or so innings over the last four seasons. 

Overall, the former second-round pick in the June Draft of 2006, Tillman pitched 10 years in the big leagues, but injuries and poor performance in his last two seasons, 2017 and 2018, destroyed his career marks, leaving him with a 4.57 lifetime ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. 

He's been on the comeback trail since 2021, and he'll try to show scouts sometime soon that he can recapture that magic of his youth.

Photo: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports