Washington Nationals right-hander Joe Ross is done for the season due to a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.
The news, announced Tuesday by Nationals manager Dave Martinez, featured one positive development: Ross might not need to undergo another round of Tommy John surgery. He had his elbow surgically reconstructed in 2017 by Dr. Keith Meister, who gave Ross his latest diagnosis this week.
“Of course, he’s not going to be happy because he wanted to continue to pitch, but I think that’s great news (that surgery isn’t necessary now),” Martinez said. “We’ll get him the rest that he needs and then get him back on the mound as soon as we can. But I don’t expect him at this point to pitch any more this year. We want to make sure he’s completely healthy, and he’s ready to go in spring training.”
Ross, 28, sat out the 2020 season amid the pandemic but returned this year to go 5-9 with a 4.17 ERA in 20 games (19 starts). He struck out 109 in 108 innings while walking 34.
Ross last pitched on Aug. 10, when he threw a five-inning relief stint against the New York Mets and allowed four runs on six hits.
In six major league seasons, all with the Nationals, Ross has a 26-28 record with a 4.26 ERA in 98 games (76 starts).
The Nationals rotation doesn’t resemble the star-studded crew from earlier in the season. Max Scherzer and Jon Lester were traded, and Ross and Stephen Strasburg (thoracic outlet syndrome) are out for the season.
–Field Level Media