The Braves already lost starters Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy to Tommy John surgery this spring and it now looks like it will claim one of their relievers.
Cory Gearrin left Tuesday’s Grapefruit League game with a right elbow injury and Braves general manager Frank Wren told David O’Brien of the Altanta Journal-Constitution this morning that tests showed “ligament involvement.” In other words, damage to the unlar collateral ligament. He’s scheduled to receive a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews next week, but season-ending Tommy John surgery is a real possibility.
Gearrin, 27, had a 3.77 ERA and 23/16 K/BB ratio over 31 innings with the Braves last season. He was worked heavily prior to a demotion around midseason and missed most of the second half with a shoulder injury.