Neftali Feliz was making the long, hard journey from closer to starting pitcher this spring, and while he was wild during his brief time as a starter, he was effective. He was pulled from the rotation in May, though, because of an elbow strain. The strain was a sprain, and the sprain was a tear, so Neftali will have some surgery, I fear.
Neftali Feliz Injury: UCL Torn, Tommy John Surgery Likely
Neftali Feliz, as suspected after he was scratched on Sunday, has tear in ulnar collateral ligament. WIll have Tommy John surgery shortly.
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) July 31, 2012
Feliz was rehabbing in Double-A Frisco for the Rangers, but he was pulled from Sunday's start with discomfort. He'll likely miss most of 2013, too.
The Rangers have already made a move anticipating that he would not be back, trading for Ryan Dempster, but there's a chance that Feliz would have been in the bullpen if he came back. The Rangers will have to make do with Joe Nathan, Mike Adams, Koji Uehara, Alexi Ogando, Robbie Ross, and Mark Lowe. The horror. The horror.
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