It looks like Koji Uehara will be on the shelf for a while, as he’s going on the disabled list with a partly torn elbow tendon. It’s too bad what he’s had to go through in his transition from the Japanese professional league to the majors, but he seems to have not been in the best of physical condition at all whatsoever.
Manager Dave Trembley announced Wednesday morning that Uehara will be shut down for up to five weeks, then embark on a throwing program that could extend his absence up to eight weeks or more. It’s possible that Uehara won’t return this season.
“Koji is going to be out for awhile,” Trembley said. “He has a partial tear in his elbow and will rest for three to five weeks. Surgery is not required. … It could be seven or eight weeks before he’s in a game again. He’s going to get a second opinion, which everyone does now, but Dr. [John] Wilckens and Dr. [Andrew] Cosgarea are confident that’s what it is.”
Uehara was thought to be suffering from tendinitis, but there was enough lingering soreness to convince the medical staff to look deeper. An arthrogram is an X-ray that is taken after dye is injected into the area to highlight any structural damage.
Hopefully, Uehara can get the injury bug out of him and contribute late in the year, but again I’ll say, maybe he should go in the bullpen as it doesn’t look like he’s anything more than a five inning starter.
