13-Year Veteran Suffers Career-Ending Injury

There's a season-ending injury, and then there's a career-ending injury. Unfortunately, the latter appears to be the case for San Diego Padres' 13-year veteran reliever Craig Stammen.

Craig Stammen knows the end has come after latest shoulder injury https://t.co/GhBzwGncsb

— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) March 12, 2023

Padres beat writer Kevin Acee of the San Diego Tribune reports that Stammen "knows the end has come" after suffering a torn capsule in his right shoulder on Friday. 

The injury occurred one day after his 39th birthday, and the pitcher acknowledged that his “playing days are probably over.” The injury would require a 4-to-6 month recovery—and that's without surgery. Going under the knife would likely be an even longer recovery process, though no decision on surgery has been made yet.

After 13 years in the majors, Stammen already had battled a torn rotator cuff injury in the shoulder in 2022, which cost him two months of the season. 

Known as a clubhouse leader and mentor, Stammen had an enviable career. 

Craig Stammen's career
13 seasons
562 games
3.66 ERA
Adjusted ERA+ 109
10 postseason appearances
55 wins
6 saves
A longstanding reputation as a good clubhouse guy.
If this is the end of his time in the big leagues, it's been great ride.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 12, 2023

He pitched to a 3.66 ERA through 562 appearances, with a career ERA+ of 109, making him 9% better than the average major league pitcher. 

As the longest-tenured Padre entering spring training, he was in camp on a minor league contract, but it appears that his days as an active pitcher are done. 

A sad ending if it is indeed the case. 

Photo: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports