MRI Reveals Torn UCL for Joel Zumaya
by Jesse on Feb 26, 2012 1:22 PM EST
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PrintMultiple sources are confirming what essentially amounts to a worst-case scenario for Joel Zumaya. His MRI this morning revealed a torn UCL, which means the only alternative for Zumaya is Tommy John surgery. Best case scenario at this point: He can start throwing sometime next summer.
From ConcordOrtho.com:
The ulnar collateral ligament can become stretched, frayed or torn through the stress of repetitive throwing motions. If the force on the soft tissues is greater than the tensile strength of the structure, then tiny tears of the ligament can develop. Months (and even years) of throwing hard cause a process of microtears, degeneration, and finally, rupture of the ligament. The dominant arm is affected most often. Eventually the weakened tendon my rupture completely causing a pop and immediate pain. The athlete may report the injury occurred during a single throw, but the reality is usually that the ligament simply finally became weakened to the point that it finally ruptured.
Zumaya has suffered so many setbacks in his career, and this moment has to be particularly heartbreaking. One could hope that this kind of surgery might allow him to come back in a couple of years and throw with an arm that is finally ready and strong enough to hold up under the pressures and torque required of a pitcher. But right now, after as many issues as he's had, it's hard to say anything with much certainty.
We feel for you, Joel. Good luck.
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Not really surprised, but it still sucks.
I was really hoping he’d make a comeback. But, I wish him a speedy recovery and the best of luck in whatever the future holds for him.
Remember, remember the seventh of November.
by Go Twins! on Feb 26, 2012 1:35 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
More from Mackey
Just talked to Terry Ryan, who said #Twins will likely stay in-house to patch bullpen w/ Zumaya out.
Damn.
Because any in-house option can give us what Zumaya can.
by Brady Eyestone on Feb 26, 2012 1:41 PM EST up reply actions
Give Wuertz a call
Is Wuertz more injured than I’ve been lead to believe? He seems like a perfect fit.
I can't believe he doesn't have a job yet.
Thought somebody would give him an opportunity, at least. Mike Gonzalez, too.
This might have been the underlying cause of his other injuries
Pitching with a partial tear to that ligament can put stress on the rest of the arm, including the freakish injury that caused the elbow fracture.
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
One of his injuries was from Guitar Hero
Another time he fell down taking boxes off a shelf.
What do they do for a physical these days?
How did his elbow go from “just fine” to “needs surgery” in 20 pitches?
13 pitches.
I don’t know if MRIs are part of the phsyical process. Even if they are, what does UCL stress look like from pitcher to pitcher? Each guy is going to show varying levels of stress in that area. Can you tell when a UCL is about to tear? I’m not sure.
I'm sure Zumaya has a detailed medical history
There have to be post-surgery MRI from the previous injuries.
Hmmm, injuries starting early this year?
If it keeps up at this rate, we’ll be fielding a local little league team by the end of the year.
by Purpledork on Feb 26, 2012 2:07 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Oh, man, I hope this is a fluke and not a trend
I don’t think I can handle it two seasons in a row.
by ColossusOfRhode on Feb 26, 2012 2:17 PM EST up reply actions
Well, if they ever need anyone to catch, they know who to call....
haha just kidding, but our luck has just sucked for injuries lately. Maybe they need to be wrapped up in bubble wrap.
"The problem with baseball is that it is not played year round" -Gaylord Perry
by twinsgirl197 on Feb 26, 2012 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Tell Gardy there's nobody around to protect him now." Ozzie Guillen
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 26, 2012 2:55 PM EST up reply actions
haha I forgot about that commercial!
"The problem with baseball is that it is not played year round" -Gaylord Perry
by twinsgirl197 on Feb 26, 2012 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
Maybe this is the year they finally REPLACE the ENTIRE training staff.
Something that should have happened after last year.
FREE AIRWOLF!
ROHLFING!!!!!
by d-mac on Feb 26, 2012 5:43 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
man poor Zumaya
Dude was so good the first year of his career and everything since has just been glass cannon.
first-worst-first?
Wow, poor guy,
I was really excited to see him play for us, to have a power arm like that available, but he just can’t stay healthy, can he? I hope once he heals he can find success again somewhere, he definitely has gone through a lot of crap trying to be successful.
"The problem with baseball is that it is not played year round" -Gaylord Perry
That's too bad
I was hoping for the best.
"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Tell Gardy there's nobody around to protect him now." Ozzie Guillen
by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 26, 2012 2:44 PM EST reply actions
A real shame
at this point will this guy ever return to pitch in the MLB?
It sucks for the Twins but at moments like this it’s hard not to think about the future of an actual person here.
Good luck in whatever the future may bring Joel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVVuKlcNJYA&feature=related
JIM JAMS BUSINESS IS MASHING TATERS, AND BUSINESS IS GOOD!!!
Urg, injuries are so 2011
Huge bummer for Zumaya. He is now faced with a big decision: Does he want to try making a comeback yet again and go through TJ?
by twinscrazy_german on Feb 26, 2012 5:31 PM EST reply actions
He hasn't made the big money yet
The next $1M will mean a great deal.
You're right
Unless he has a backup plan for making a living back at home.
by twinscrazy_german on Feb 27, 2012 4:43 AM EST up reply actions
Damn, I feel for him
I really wanted to see Joel make a comeback, he’s an exciting pitcher to watch! Best of luck to him, whatever the future brings.
"Nobody wants to hear me rap." - Joe Mauer
"The more toppings a man has on his pizza, I believe the more manly he is." - Herman Cain
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Feb 26, 2012 5:36 PM EST reply actions
+1
that was actually a pretty smart signing, just because he got hurt (which we had a safe signing for incase he did get hurt) doesn’t mean it was a bad signing. It was an option we could explore, but then it just didn’t work. We have to move on. Do you want Bill Smith back?
"The problem with baseball is that it is not played year round" -Gaylord Perry
by twinsgirl197 on Feb 26, 2012 6:16 PM EST up reply actions
(that last ? is directed at Dan_20, not you, funnytrain)
"The problem with baseball is that it is not played year round" -Gaylord Perry
by twinsgirl197 on Feb 26, 2012 6:16 PM EST up reply actions
I'm pretty sure that we're better with him,
but to each his/her own I guess
"The problem with baseball is that it is not played year round" -Gaylord Perry
by twinsgirl197 on Feb 28, 2012 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
Please don't feed the troll
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
by cmathewson on Feb 28, 2012 8:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Seriously?
It was a classic low-risk, high-reward maneuver. Signing Zumaya was actually a smart risk.
Choosing to rely on him without signing additional help at the MLB level, that’s another story. But we know how the Twins like to create their bullpen from the minors, too.
Exactly.
The mistake was that the signings were limited to Zumaya, whose history made him something to dream on and that’s about it.
But in itself it was a great sign, assuming they really did their due diligence. (I guess I don’t exactly trust that it will come out via the local beat reporters if, in fact, the Twins’ physical and/or medical screening process were inadequate relative to what other teams might have done.)
by tobynotjason on Feb 26, 2012 7:45 PM EST up reply actions
Reusse will boo Mauer because Zumaya got hurt and not understand why no one will boo with him
"Nobody wants to hear me rap." - Joe Mauer
"The more toppings a man has on his pizza, I believe the more manly he is." - Herman Cain
by what_would_gil_thorp_do on Feb 26, 2012 9:12 PM EST up reply actions
So an inury prone player gets injured and the solution is....
….to fire the general manager, mere months after already firing his predecessor.
Makes sense.
The beard abides.
by Jason Kubel's Beard on Feb 26, 2012 10:09 PM EST up reply actions
The 2006 Tigers season was my first as a real baseball fan
You made sure that whenever Zumaya took the mound, you paid attention. It was never boring.
Was truly looking forward to seeing him at Target Field this year.
This might be the least surprising injury ever
It sucks for all involved, don’t get me wrong, but I felt not even the slightest twinge of surprise when I saw the news.
"There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein
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