Results tagged ‘ Tommy John surgery ’
Astros-A’s set to battle at Minute Maid
The Astros play host to the Oakland A’s this weekend at Minute Maid Park for only the second time in history. The team are now in the same division, but both sides have a handful of players who are very familiar with the opposition. Brad Peacock is on the mound for the Astros, facing his former team in his first action since 2011. Astros starting pitchers have a 2.08 ERA in the team’s first three games.
The Astros made some news today:
- The team designated right-handed pitcher Edgar Gonzalez for assignment to clear a roster spot for newly-acquired left-handed pitcher Travis Blackley, general manager Jeff Luhnow announced today. Blackley, whom was acquired from the Oakland Athletics yesterday, will be with the Astros for tonight’s game and will wear No. 54. He was 6-4 with a 4.10 ERA in 28 games, including 15 starts, with San Francisco (4 games) and Oakland (24 games) last season. Gonzalez, who has been with the Astros since last season, did not appear in the first three games of the 2013 season. The Astros 40-man roster is now at 40.
- Luhnow also announced today that right-handed pitcher Alex White will undergo ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery (Tommy John) on his right elbow next week. White left his last start on Friday (March 29) vs. the Cubs after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow.
Here are the lineups:
ASTROS
2B Jose Altuve
1B Brett Wallace
LF Chris Carter
DH Carlos Pena
CF Justin Maxwell
RF Rick Ankiel
C Jason Castro
3B Matt Dominguez
SS Marwin Gonzalez
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RHP Brad Peacock
ATHLETICS
CF Coco Crisp
SS Jed Lowrie
RF Josh Reddick
LF Yoenis Cespedes
DH Seth Smith
C John Jason
3B Josh Donaldson
2B Eric Sogard
1B Nate Freiman
—
RHP Dan Straily
Escalona to have Tommy John surgery
Astros left-handed relief pitcher Sergio Escalona was told Saturday he had a torn ligament in his left elbow and will have to undergo Tommy John surgery next week in Houston. He will miss the entire 2012 season.
Escalona, 27, appeared in 49 games for the Astros last year and went 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA as the team’s left-handed specialist out of the bullpen.
“Obviously, Sergio is an effective left-handed pitcher and we’re going to have to find someone to replace him,” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said. “It’s definitely a setback.”
Escalona injured his elbow swinging a bat early in the spring and only pitched in two Grapefruit League games because of discomfort. An MRI taken on Escalona’s elbow Friday at Florida Hospital revealed the tear of his ulnar collateral ligament.
“They told me there were two options,” Escalona told MLB.com. “One option was shutting down half of the season and start recovering again. I didn’t want to take the chance. The thing is, they told me you can do that but if you start hurting again at the end of the season you have to take the surgery anyway. The best option is take the surgery right now and get ready for the next Spring Training. It’s going to be a long year for me doing the rehab.”
Escalona was acquired by the Astros in a trade with the Phillies on Jan. 10, 2011 and was a valuable bullpen piece.
“I thought this was going to be my year in the big leagues,” Escalona said. “You have to learn to handle things this. I’m OK with that. What can I say?”
The Astros have left-handers Wesley Wright and Fernando Abad still in camp, as well as veteran Zach Duke, who’s competing for a spot in the bullpen and in the rotation.
“This probably makes us think about Duke’s role if he doesn’t win a spot in the rotation,” Luhnow said. “[Xavier] Cedeno pitched well, even though he was re-assigned [Friday]. He’s pitched well and he’s shown he’s got some future as a lefty out of the bullpen. There are some options and we’re not panicking. We’d prefer to have a healthy Sergio on the team, but it’s not to be and we’re going to move onto plan B.”
Brian McTaggart
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