I'll defend that. Because Volquez just came off TJ surgery. Name a pitcher who had TJ surgery and came back effectively the next season?
- Nick Adenhart
Brian Anderson[9]
Rick Ankiel [10] (converted to outfielder)
Andy Ashby [11]
Mike Aviles (shortstop)
Luis Ayala [12]
Brandon Backe [13]
Danys Baez [14]
Luke Bailey (minor leaguer)
Rocco Baldelli [15] (outfielder)
Rod Beck [16]
Erik Bedard [17]
Ronald Belisario
Francis Beltran [18]
Jeff Bennett [19]
Kris Benson [20]
Adam Bernero [21]
Dellin Betances (minor leaguer)
Jeff Bianchi (minor leaguer)
Brent Billingsley [22]
Joe Borchard (outfielder)
Bill Bray
Dewon Brazelton
Doug Brocail
Taylor Buchholz
Ambiorix Burgos
A. J. Burnett
Matt Bush (minor leaguer)
Paul Byrd
Jorge Campillo
José Canseco (outfielder; injured while pitching)
Chris Capuano (twice)
Chris Carpenter
Rocky Cherry
Matt Chico
Shin-Soo Choo (outfielder)
Todd Coffey
Chris Coste (catcher)
Neal Cotts
John Creech (pitcher)
Casey Crosby (minor leaguer)
Ben Davis (catcher)
Manny Delcarmen
Ryan Dempster [20]
Chris Denorfia (outfielder)
Jorge DePaula
Joey Devine
Thomas Diamond (minor leaguer)
Brendan Donnelly
Octavio Dotel
Kyle Drabek (minor leaguer)
Darren Dreifort
Phil Dumatrait
Brian Duensing
Adam Eaton
Dave Eiland (twice)
Clint Everts (minor leaguer)
Willie Eyre
Ryan Feierabend
Scott Feldman[23]
Jesse Foppert
Chad Fox (three times)
John Franco
Frank Francisco
Éric Gagné [20]
Jaime García
Luis Gonzalez (outfielder)
Mike González
Tom Gordon [20]
Rusty Greer (outfielder)
Lee Gronkiewicz
Angel Guzman
Nick Hagadone (minor leaguer)
Mike Hampton
Sean Henn
Pat Hentgen
Runelvys Hernández
Shawn Hill (twice)
Matt Holliday (outfielder)
Norris Hopper (outfielder)
Alan Horne (minor leaguer)
Tim Hudson
Philip Humber
Todd Hundley (catcher)
Eric Hurley
César Izturis (infielder)
Jason Isringhausen
Tommy John
Kelly Johnson (infielder)
Josh Johnson
Steve Karsay
Jimmy Key
Josh Kinney
Billy Koch [20]
Bobby Korecky
Hong-Chih Kuo (twice)
Luis Lebron
Cory Lidle
Jon Lieber [20]
Brad Lincoln (minor leaguer)
Jesse Litsch[24]
Mike Lincoln (twice)
Francisco Liriano
Rodrigo Lopez
Matt Mantei
Shaun Marcum
Scott Mathieson (twice)
Joe Mays
Macay McBride
Seth McClung
Jake McGee (minor leaguer)
Dustin McGowan
Mark McLemore
Jon Meloan
Zach Miner
Sergio Mitre
Paul Molitor (infielder)
Matt Morris [20]
Peter Moylan
Xavier Nady (twice; outfielder)
Tim Naehring (infielder)
Joe Nathan
Pat Neshek
Brian Norton (javelin)
John Odom
Russ Ortiz
Josh Outman
Juan Padilla
Jarrod Parker (minor leaguer)
John Parrish
Carl Pavano
Omar Poveda (minor leaguer)
Scott Proctor
Bill Pulsipher
Chris Ray [14][20]
Carlos Quentin (outfielder)
Britt Reames
Matt Reno
Al Reyes
Anthony Reyes
Arthur Rhodes
Jose Rijo (thrice)
Matt Riley (thrice)
Ricardo Rincón
David Riske
Nate Robertson
Fernando Rodney
Kenny Rogers
Francisco Rosario
B. J. Ryan
Ángel Sánchez[25] (infielder)
Aníbal Sánchez
Humberto Sánchez
Scott Schoeneweis
Jae Seo
Alfredo Simon
Andy Sisco
John Smoltz [20]
Kyle Snyder
Joakim Soria
Rafael Soriano
Tim Spooneybarger
Denny Stark (twice)
Eric Stults (now plays in Japan)
Junichi Tazawa
Clete Thomas (outfielder)
Brian Tollberg
Wade Townsend (minor leaguer)
Merkin Valdez
Rick van den Hurk
Óscar Villarreal
Edinson Volquez
Billy Wagner
Paul Wagner
Tyler Walker
David Wells
Jake Westbrook
Scott Williamson
C.J. Wilson
Brian Wilson
Vance Wilson (twice; catcher)
Mark Wohlers
Randy Wolf
Kerry Wood [20]
Mark Worrell
Jaret Wright
Tyler Yates (twice)
Matt Young
Ryan Young (javelin)
Mike Zagurski
Víctor Zambrano (twice)
Jeff Zimmerman (twice)
Jordan Zimmermann
A.J. Burnett had success is the only pitcher on the list who saw success the year after TJ surgery. The rest regained success after two years, if ever again. Counting on Volquez to be reliable, never the less an ace, wouldn't be a smart choice.