Red Sox reliever Rich Hill will undergo Tommy John surgery on his torn UCL, knocking him out for 2011 and much of 2012.
Rich Hill Injury: Tommy John Surgery For Red Sox Lefty
Ligament replacement surgery. It seemed inevitable once Hill’s UCL was shown to be torn, and now it’s on the schedule. As such, Hill is finished for 2011, and he probably won’t return until the middle of 2012.
Hill has undergone major surgery before, but that was on his shoulder labrum, and now one has to wonder if the 31-year-old will ever make it back to the Majors. It would be a shame if he didn’t, since Hill was having good success out of the Boston bullpen before getting hurt.
Read Article >Rich Hill Injury: Red Sox Lefty Having MRI, Avoids Major UCL Damage
And via Scott Lauber:
Hill isn’t yet out of the woods, and the MRI will reveal what - if anything - is wrong. But the fact that he passed tests on his UCL eases fears that he might be in for Tommy John surgery. Presumably, you can’t pass those tests if your UCL is messed up. Otherwise the tests wouldn’t have a point.
Read Article >Rich Hill Injury: Red Sox Lefty Leaves Game Vs. White Sox After Only Seven Pitches
Hill was only seven pitches into his seventh-inning relief appearance. A significant elbow injury would certainly be a major concern for a 31-year-old with a history of arm troubles.
Hill has pitched eight innings in 2011 without giving up a run. Originally a starter, the Red Sox moved him to the bullpen after a disastrous 2009 campaign. Hill is the only left-hander in the Boston bullpen, so if Hill’s apparent injury is as serious as it appears, the Sox will have every reason to move quickly.
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