Johan Santana pitches gem as Mets defeat Padres, 9-0

Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger—May 26, 2012

There are no more baby steps for Johan Santana. His comeback from anterior capsule surgery on his left shoulder is fast becoming a case study in the wonders of medical science.

No pitcher has ever been documented to come back from the operation to be the player he once was.

Ever since Santana underwent the complex surgery on Sept. 14, 2010, he vowed to never give in. He put himself through a rehab for the ages. There were good days and bad, milestones and setbacks.

“I put myself into it,” Santana said of his grueling rehab. “Everybody is different. I didn’t know how everything was going to be coming into the season.

“I was waiting to have an opportunity to go out and build up. Again, I go back to when Dr. David Altchek, of Hospital for Special Surgery, told me everything was successful. From that point on, I knew it was up to me. I’ve been working.”

“When we were talking in spring training how nobody has ever come back from that surgery and what a tough road he had ahead, I said if anybody can come back from it, it’s him,” manager Terry Collins said.

Since spring training, the Mets have been cautious with Santana. They won’t do anything “crazy,” as Santana likes to say, but know their ace is truly back.

“I’ve been through a lot,” Santana said. “It’s a great feeling for me to just put on the uniform. Being able to help and go out there every five days is definitely something I was waiting for. I don’t do anything to show anybody. When I’m healthy, I know what I can do.”

This story originally appeared on nj.com.