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Yankees’ Chase Whitley likely needs Tommy John surgery

By Matt Verderame

Jun 18, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Chase Whitley throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning during the MLB baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Chase Whitley throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning during the MLB baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Yankees are one of the most surprising teams in baseball, leading the American League East as we approach Memorial Day. However, the Bronx Bombers did get some unfortunate news on Friday, with the word coming down that starting pitcher Chase Whitley was diagnosed with a torn UCL, according to CBS Sports.

Whitley is seeking a second opinion, but if his UCL is indeed torn, Tommy John surgery is a certainty. Whitley would be out anywhere from 12-18 months depending on how his body responds to the procedure, putting him on the shelf for the rest of this season and quite possibly all of 2016 as well.

Whitley had been a nice little boost for New York this season, posting a 3-0 record in three starts. Without Whitley, the Yankees dipped into the farm system and tabbed starter Jose Ramirez from Triple-A to earn the promotion. Ramirez posted a 2.95 ERA with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders, which if nothing else have a great name. It just screams minor leagues doesn’t it?

Should Whitley need Tommy John, it is simply the latest in a long line of pitchers who have gone under the knife over the past few years. Baseball is suffering through an epidemic of young arms needing the involved procedure, including some of the best such as Matt Harvey, Stephen Strasburg, Yu Darvish and Jose Fernandez. Other names who have undergone the surgery recently are Jarrod Parker, Brett Anderson, A.J. Griffin, Joakim Soria, Jordan Zimmerman and dozens more.

Many pundits believe the spike in Tommy John surgeries is a result of teenagers and high school students pitching year-round with AAU leagues and tournaments. The overhand throwing motion is unnatural to the human anatomy (a ball is actually supposed to be thrown like a softball pitcher would deliver it), putting torque on the elbow and shoulder.

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