It’s an annual rite: On the eve of spring training, several pitchers undergo the sort of surgery that shuts them down for weeks, months or an entire season.



And each year, fans ask the same question: Why did clubs wait until now to put their pitchers under the knife?



This year’s list includes James Paxton of the Yankees and Daniel Mengden of the A’s. And of particular interest to Blue Jays’ fans: blue-chip prospect Eric Pardinho.



Just turned 19, Pardinho underwent Tommy John surgery this week and will miss the upcoming season and perhaps part of 2021. He missed the first two months of the 2019 season with an elbow sprain and was shut down early in August.



So why did the Jays wait so long?



Actually, they didn’t. Pardinho was pitching well for Low-A Lansing when was shut down in August with a low-back injury. Tests showed his elbow was fine then, said Pat Chasse, the Blue Jays’ medical...