Brent Honeywell (seated) was diagnosed with a torn UCL on Friday, and injury that will require the right-hander to undergo Tommy John surgery. (Photo Credit: Will Vragovic)
After being pulled from live batting practice with a right-forearm on Thursday, Tampa Bay Rays top pitching prospect Brent Honeywell has been diagnosed with a torn right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Tommy John surgery has been recommended.
The re-evaluated diagnosis is a worst-case scenario for the team and Honeywell. The early diagnosis often is a precursor to a UCL tear upon further testing. We noted yesterday that the injury was of concern to the Rays.
Honeywell had thrown five pitches to catcher Jesus Sucre in his first live batting practice, then was hurt on his second pitch to the next batter, Wilson Ramos, a fastball.
Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) wrote an account of the injury, saying:
Honeywell, 22, was facing his second batter of the session when he clearly felt something wrong after delivering a fastball on his seventh pitch, throwing his glove down, and cursing loudly twice. He was quickly checked by assistant athletic trainer Mike Sandoval, then walked off the mound and to the clubhouse.
The hurler had been throwing harder Thursday than he ever had, yet insisted that was not cause of the UCL tear, that it was “inevitable,” would have happened at some point. He was adamant in his statements with Topkin that his “unconventional” approach to pitching — including throwing a screwball — had nothing to do with UCL tear.
It’s the nature of the beast, said Honeywell. We signed up to be pitchers. Bad things happen now and then.
Honeywell saw team orthopedist Dr. Koco Eaton on Thursday, but said he knew what was wrong before the diagnosis. He is expected to get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews, but seemed to be leaning toward having Eaton do the surgery, citing a desire to speed up his return sometime in 2019.
The Rays have alternatives to step into the rotation as needed, although none with an upside that matches the top billed pitching prospect. Be that as it may, Tampa Bay has a stock of young arms in Triple-A, and on the 40-man roster, led by Ryan Yarbrough, Yonny Chirinos, Jose De Leon and Anthony Banda.
