Pre-Strasmas buzzkill: Nats prospect Jack McGeary set for surgery

The Nationals announced Tuesday that 21-year-old left-hander Jack McGeary would undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of 2010. McGeary was a sixth-round pick in 2007, but he was viewed as a first-round talent and he received a $1.85 million bonus as part of an unusual contract that allowed him to attend Stanford and pitch only half a season in the first three years of his career. McGeary opted to put in full seasons the last two years anyway, but he had been a disappointment. He went 2-12 with a 5.54 ERA in a 2009 campaign in which he received a midseason demotion from low Single-A Hagerstown to short-season Single-A Vermont. This year, McGeary was 4-1 with a 4.62 ERA back at Hagerstown. He had improved peripherals, including a 32/15 K/BB ratio in 39 innings. Also, left-handed hitters were just 1-for-24 against him. The Nationals still have hopes of McGeary developing into a No. 3 starter someday, but with the surgery set to keep him out through the middle of next year, he’s an awfully long way from contributing.