Halos' Madson wants HGH to help rehab injuries

Ryan Madson hasn't pitched in a game since October 2011. (USATSI)

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Right-hander Ryan Madson has not pitched in a game since the 2011 NLDS, when he was still a member of the Phillies. He signed a one-year contract with the Reds the following offseason before blowing out his elbow and requiring Tommy John surgery in spring training. This past offseason he signed another one-year deal, this one with the Angels.

Madson, now 32, has yet to pitch for the Angels due to continued complications from his elbow reconstruction. He's dealt with numerous setbacks during the rehab process and isn't particularly close to returning to a big league mound. It has been a long and frustrating process, for sure.

While speaking with MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez recently, Madson indicated he is in favor of the use of human growth hormone (HGH) by injured athletes under the watch and prescription of doctors. From Gonzalez's article:

"If HGH were legal," Madson said, "just in the process of healing, under a doctor's recommendation, in the right dosage, while you're on the [disabled list], I don't think that's such a bad idea -- as long as it doesn't have any lasting side effects, negative side effects."

(snip)

"Right now," Madson said, "it's cheating. I've never done anything like that, and I won't."

(snip)

"But I will still believe, even if I get healthy without that," Madson added, "that it should be legal, in the right dosage, under supervision, with doctors, for the only purposes to help heal and get players back in the Major Leagues. Because people want to watch them, because of their talents, just to get them back on the field to play. That's it. I think it would be good for the game; I think it would be good for the fans. Fans want to see the best players play, and they want to see the players that they watch come back from injury and stay back. I think it would be a good thing."

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Halos' Madson wants HGH to help rehab injuries