Report: Jose Fernandez officially diagnosed with torn UCL, surgery recommended
The news that the Miami Marlins feared the most has come to fruition. Starting pitcher Jose Fernandez has been diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament (UCL), and doctors have advised the pitcher to have surgery to repair the tear, via ESPN.com.
This will likely mean Tommy John surgery — the 18th so far this season in Major League Baseball — and an end to the season for the Marlins’ young phenom.
CBS Sports is reporting that Fernandez has said that he wants to get an opinion from the Marlins’ team doctor before deciding on surgery, but it almost seems like a foregone conclusion at this point
When a team loses a starting pitcher as good as Fernandez, it’s bad, but he’s also the face of a young franchise attempting to regain the trust and support of the South Florida fan base, and this certainly won’t help matters.
Other pitchers who have had to cut their seasons short to have Tommy John surgery this year include Braves right-handers Kris Medlen, Brandon Beachy and Cory Gearrin; Diamondbacks ace Patrick Corbin; Athletics starters Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin; Rays All-Star starter Matt Moore; Yankees starter Ivan Nova; Padres starter Josh Johnson; Mets closer Bobby Parnell; Royals reliever Luke Hochevar; and Tigers reliever Bruce Rondon.
The 21-year-old Fernandez is 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA in eight starts this season, and had a league-leading 70 strikeouts.