The Oakland A’s pitching staff received a major blow on Monday when it was learned that ace Jarrod Parker will need a second Tommy John surgery. The 25-year-old had his elbow operated on in 2009 while he was in the Arizona Diamondbacks system. The surgery will keep Parker out for at least the entire 2014 season, and maybe longer as there simply isn’t a long track record of players who have gone through two Tommy John surgeries and successfully returned to the major leagues.
Parker was 12-8 last season with a 3.97 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 134 strikeouts and 63 walks in 197 innings for the A’s. He’s posted a 3.73 ERA in 378 innings for the A’s over the last two years. Parker was acquired in a 2011 trade for Trevor Cahill.
The A’s pitching rotation to start the season appears to be in major flux. Oakland also just lost A.J. Griffin for at least a month with flexor tendinitis, as he needs to rest his arm. Scott Kazmir was scratched from today’s scheduled spring traing start with a triceps strain. Sonny Gray could be the A’s opening day starter, and he only has 10 career MLB starts. Dan Straily is the other currently healthy member of the starting rotation.
Tommy Milone, Jesse Chavez, Drew Pomeranz and Josh Lindblom could be battling for some of the open spots in the rotation.
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