In the latest round of bad news as it relates to young starting pitchers and major injuries, Tampa Bay Rays starter Matt Moore has a tear in the ulnar-collateral ligament of his left elbow and may require season-ending surgery.
If the Rays end up opting for surgery, Moore joins a wide array of other young starting pitchers that will have to rebound from a surgery that has been all-too common in recent years. Jarrod Parker (Oakland Athletics), Patrick Corbin (Arizona Diamondbacks) and Kris Medlan (Atlanta Braves) have previously opted to go under the knife.
Rays' Matt Moore is latest pitcher facing season-ending Tommy John surgery: http://t.co/2AYo1t6eNO
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 10, 2014
The 24-year-0ld lefty finished last season with a 17-4 record and a 3.29 ERA in what ended up being an All-Star performance. It was Moore’s second full season in the majors after making his debut with the Rays at 21 back in 2011. He was an eighth-round pick out of Moriarty High School in New Mexico back in 2007.
Tampa Bay may have a strong contingent of young starters, but this has to be a blow to its rotation.
Rays manager Joe Maddon had the following to say about Moore’s situation on Thursday, via Tampa Bay Times.
We need to get all the facts and decide how we want to proceed with this…See if surgery is necessary, if it’s not necessary. We’re still waiting to find out.
If surgery is not necessary, Moore should be able to come back in a few months. If it is necessary, he will be out for a calendar year, which has been the going rate rate of recovery for Tommy John Surgery in recent years. Tampa Bay’s chances of earning a postseason spot may very well depend on what the Rays and Moore decide in the coming days.
Photo: Denny Medley, USA Today