The Texas Rangers and New York Yankees jumped into spring training with hopes of rebounding from less-than-stellar 2014 campaigns. However, they'll need their wilting starting rotations to help them through the long season.
And for the Rangers it's not looking so good. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, ace Yu Darvish has a sprained UCL in his right elbow and is mulling whether or not to undergo Tommy John surgery. He is scheduled to get a second opinion from Dr. David Altcheck in New York on Tuesday.
Darvish exited his first spring training start earlier this week because of tightness in his right triceps, but it was said the injury wasn't concerning. The right-hander was shut down after 22 starts last season because of mild elbow inflammation, but it was believed to have subsided after an MRI earlier in the offseason revealed a healthy UCL.
Grant notes Darvish "almost certainly" will undergo the season-ending surgery because all other options are "unrealistic" based on the severity of the injury.
However, New York Yankees' ace Masahiro Tanaka has been rehabbing a partially torn UCL in his throwing elbow, which he suffered back in July. He made two starts in September before the 2014 season ended and has been working throughout the offseason to strengthen his arm and endure a full year in 2015. The team received more good news on Saturday.
"Tanaka threw a two-inning simulated game this morning and seems on track - though the Yankees won't say for certain - to make his spring training debut next week," writes Chad Jennings of The Journal News.
"He's exactly where you want him to be at this point in spring training," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "It's good to see him get out there and be able to go through all his pitches and have a good day of work and feel good after. If things progress the way they are, I'm very confident he'll be ready (by Opening Day)."
The right-hander is altering his mechanics to protect his elbow, which is what the Yankees need if they want a shot at the postseason. Keep an eye out for Tanaka to make his spring debut in the next few days.
