Fansided

MLB Rumors: Yankees starter Ivan Nova likely to undergo Tommy John surgery

By Josh Hill

Apr 19, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova (47) reacts after he gave up a solo home run during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova (47) reacts after he gave up a solo home run during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Apr 19, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova (47) reacts after he gave up a solo home run during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova (47) reacts after he gave up a solo home run during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

New York Yankees pitcher Ivan Nova’s season looks like it could be over as his injured elbow may land him in the same situation fellow AL East starter Matt Moore is in at the moment. According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, Nova is likely to require Tommy John surgery to repair his damaged elbow as an MRI has revealed a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament.

This is bad news for the Yankees as Nova was looking like he was developing into one of their ace pitchers and a guy who could succeed C.C. Sabbathia as the work horse of the starting rotation. At the very least, Nova was on track to become a one-two punch with Sabbathia but now that Tommy John surgery is likely needed, his future is in serious doubt.

We’ve seen pitchers bound back from Tommy John surgery in the past, but unlike the medical advancements in the NFL when it comes to ACL injuries and quick recoveries, needing Tommy John surgery still seems like somewhat of a death sentence.

You can get by with slightly slower speed in the NFL, you can’t get by with a slightly slower fastball in baseball. That’s the reality that Nova is facing and while he could bounce back, the uncertainty is not something he nor Yankees fans wanted to be dealing with this season.