Kansas City Royals Closer Joakim Soria Headed for Tommy John Surgery?
Kansas City Royals closer Joakim Soria has one of the most promising young arms in all of Major League Baseball. When he’s on, he’s as difficult to hit as any closer in the game.
The problem is, that live arm is all too often injured.
Reports have surfaced the 27 year old right-hander may be facing Tommy John surgery due to damage in the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. Surgery to repair damage to this particular ligament could require up to 9-12 months rehabilitation which would ensure Soria misses the entire 2012 MLB season.
Soria is in line to get one more opinion from renowned Los Angeles surgeon Lewis Yocum on Tuesday to confirm or deny what has believed about his need for a Tommy John procedure. Soria already had one Tommy John procedure performed on the same pitching elbow when he was a part of the Los Angeles Dodgers staff during the 2003 season.
As insurance for this potential occurence, and to shore up a weak bullpen, the Royals signed journeyman closer/setup man Jonathan Broxton last November, but hopes were Broxton would be able to stay in a setup role and not be required to pitch in closing situations on a daily basis.
Should Soria’s injury turn out to be season-ending, Royals General Manager Dayton Moore will be left with a difficult decision on whether to hand the ball over to Broxton in the late innings or pursue a free agent closer during Spring Training or the early going of the 2012 MLB campaign.
You have to believe Moore has his fingers crossed that Lewis Yocum’s second opinion will be a positive one.
