New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka reportedly underwent an MRI Wednesday after complaining of soreness in his right elbow. The Yankees placed Tanaka on the 15-day disabled list and are awaiting the MRI results from the team doctor, according to the New York Post.
Tanaka informed team trainers of the soreness in his elbow shortly after the Yankees' 5-3 loss Tuesday night to the Cleveland Indians, and he underwent an MRI in New York Wednesday afternoon. CBS Sports confirmed Tanaka had inflammation in his right elbow.
While the Yankees refused to speculate on the severity of Tanaka's injury, it is possible Tanaka could need Tommy John surgery.
"It could be a strained muscle, ligament or tendon. Or Tanaka could be headed for Tommy John surgery, a crushing blow hard to recover from," George A. King III of The Post wrote on Wednesday.
Yankees catcher Brian McCann, who caught for Tanaka Tuesday night, told reporters he didn't notice anything to suggest Tanaka was injured.
"I didn't think anything of it," McCann said, via The Post. "I walked in [the clubhouse] and heard the news. The only thing [Tuesday] was that his pitches didn't have the sharp action like in the past, but he still pitched good. I didn't notice anything. I was surprised when I came in."
The Yankees, who failed to complete a trade with the Chicago Cubs for pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, are now short on pitchers. Hiroki Kuroda is the only starter who hasn't been injured.
Chase Whitley, meanwhile, is the likely replacement for Tanaka in the rotation.
