Another young starting pitcher could be headed for Tommy John surgery as the Tampa Bay Rays have placed left-hander Matt Moore on the 15-day disabled list and announced that tests have revealed a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. Moore will consult with doctors and decide if he will try to rehab the elbow or opt for the surgery.
“I don’t think it’s fully torn, from what I understand,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.
Moore left his last start on Monday against the Kansas City Royals with pain in his elbow. He said the pain was similar to, but not as severe as, the pain in the same location he experienced last summer that forced him to the disabled list for more than a month. The partial tear may also explain why Moore has lost velocity since his rookie season in 2011.
The 24-year-old would be out at least a month with the rehabilitation plan, and would be out well over a year if he were to go for the surgery now. For most pitchers with a partial tear of the UCL, rehabilitation fails and surgery becomes necessary.
Moore was 17-4 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 143 strikeouts in 150 1/3 innings last season. He has lost both of his starts this season but has a 2.70 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and six strikeouts in 10 innings pitched.
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