Atlanta Braves reliever Cory Gearrin likely to require Tommy John Surgery

Former MLB pitcher Tommy John may want to start asking for royalties from the Atlanta Braves. For the third time this spring, it looks like an Atlanta pitcher may require the elbow ligament replacement named after the former hurler.

Not as devastating as the first two names on the list of Braves pitchers to require surgery this season, reliever Cory Gearrin, who was pulled from a spring training game on Tuesday after experiencing discomfort in his elbow, will likely need to have the procedure done.

Gearrin wasn’t one of the main cogs of the Braves pitching staff, but with five pitchers already on the disabled list–including starters Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy who will miss the season after having TJ surgery–every arm was becoming crucial to the Braves.

David O’Brien of the Altanta Journal-Constitution reported this morning that Braves general manager Frank Wren stated  that tests on Gearrin showed “ligament involvement.”

The 27-year-old right-hander is scheduled to get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews (a name that has become nightmarish to Braves fans) next week, but season-ending Tommy John surgery will likely be the outcome unless the initial tests were way off base.

Gearrin had a 3.77 ERA and 23/16 K/BB ratio in 31 innings pitched with the Braves last season. He was demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett at midseason and missed most of the second half of the season with a shoulder injury.