The Los Angeles Angels injuries just keep piling up. The Angels were dealt a tremendous deal of bad luck today, when it was announced that their ace, Garrett Richards, would have to undergo Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. To make matters worse, it has also been revealed that Angels left-hander Andrew Heaney has structural damage to his UCL as well, and may require the season ending procedure. Heaney, who has been on the disabled list for three weeks now, has been attempting to avoid surgery and rehab the injury.
Los Angeles #Angels RHP Garrett Richards has a torn UCL in his right elbow and will likely need Tommy John Surgery, Yahoo sports reports.
— Major League Mayhem (@MLBMayhem) May 6, 2016
The 27-year-old Richards, who had quickly ascended to the top of the Angels’ pitching staff, will now have to sit out an extended period of time to recover from the procedure. If all goes well, the team would expect Richards to return sometime in the summer of 2017. The tear was diagnosed on Thursday after Richards had been scratched from his upcoming start on Friday due to dehydration and fatigue. Richards was off to a strong start in 2016, posting a 2.34 ERA with thirty-four strikeouts in 34.2 innings pitched. The tear is expected to be too serious to attempt to rehabilitate without surgery.
In addition to the misfortune plaguing Richards, Yahoo Sports has learned from multiple sources today that Andrew Heaney will potentially need to undergo the procedure as well. Heaney has been out since early April with what was reported as a strained flexor muscle, but the early indications from the Angels are that his rehab has been moving in a positive direction.
LHP Andrew Heaney, nearing 3 weeks on the DL, had a follow-up MRI today, Mike Scioscia said. The Angels believe the results are positive.
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) April 25, 2016
Acquired in 2014 from the crosstown rival Dodgers, the 24-year-old left-hander had a strong 2015 campaign, posting a 6-4 record with a 3.48 ERA and seventy-eight strikeouts in 105.2 innings. Heaney made one start, a loss, in 2016 before hitting the disabled list. The Angels starting rotation has become extremely depleted with the losses of C.J. Wilson, Andrew Heaney, and now Garrett Richards.
Main Photo:
