Brought to my attention by community member clutterheart is this story by Jeff Johnson of The Gazette. It's an article on the process of learning English by a few Twins prospects, and in its own right it's an engaging story. Yet, very quietly, there is discussion of surgery for two prospects. Yorman Landa, a 20-year old reliever for Cedar Rapids, has already undergone an operation on his shoulder.
The second player seemingly considering going under the knife is Fernando Romero, a 19-year old who was called up to Cedar Rapids at the same time as Lewis Thorpe. Except for Romero, it would be Tommy John surgery.
On Friday morning, Vielma and Romero (both just 19 years old) arrived late to Veterans Memorial Stadium for their class, though it was understandable since the Kernels had a game the night before in Peoria and didn’t arrive back home until the wee hours. Pumroy expected pitcher Yorman Landa (from Venezuela, like Vielma) to join the group as well, but Romero explained to her in Spanish that he had undergone surgery on his shoulder a couple days earlier and was going to be gone from the team the rest of the season.
Romero then told Pumroy that he, too, had been in Minneapolis to be checked out by Twins doctors and was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right, throwing elbow. The Twins want him to have Tommy John ligament replacement surgery, which would keep him out a year, but he isn’t sure he wants to have the procedure done.
Romero, who was voted the organization's number 21 prospect overall going into 2014, has made three starts for the Kernels since his promotion. His last outing was eight days ago, and he is currently listed on the 7-day disabled list.