Will Masahiro Tanaka need Tommy John surgery?
By Josh Hill
It was looking like an amazing season for New York Yankees pitching sensation Masahiro Tanaka but that season may end up getting cut way short as it appears Tanaka might need to undergo the most dreaded surgery a pitcher can go through — Tommy John surgery.
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And MRI revealed on Thursday that the Yankees ace has a torn UCL, which more often than not means Tommy John surgery is needed to correct the problem. It’s not a certainty but it’s something that is being heavily considered at the moment.
The question now has become will Tanaka need Tommy John surgery, which will end his stellar rookie season short and put his future into jeopardy thanks to the severity of the surgery?
Cashman said Tanaka has seen three doctors - Ahmad, Altcheck and one more. All three diagnose a partially torn ligament in throwing arm.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 11, 2014
One PRP injection and throwing program has been recommended. It's considered a small ligament tear for Tanaka. TJ surgery not ruled out.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 11, 2014
Cashman said it's Tanaka's UCL.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 11, 2014
A torn UCL is ot something you want to tough out and it’s something that could come back up again at a later date if it goes untreated — and it could flare up even worse the second time around.
It’s not a certainty that Tanaka will need Tommy John surgery and nothing has been scheduled yet. But if you had to be for or against it happening, you’d be best off betting the kid’s college fund on Tanaka’s season ending in the near future due to Tommy John surgery on his elbow.