Neal ElAttrache, MD, of Los Angeles-based Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic will perform Tommy John surgery on Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Shelby Miller, according to AZ Central.
Here are five things to know:
1. The surgery's date has not yet been announced.
2. Mr. Miller is expected to be sidelined for at least 12 months.
3. The pitcher was placed on the disabled list on Mon., April 24 after exiting a game on Sun., April 23 due to forearm tightness.
4. His ulnar collateral ligament wasn't completely torn, making rest and rehab potential alternatives to surgery.
5. Mr. Miller sought the opinion of Diamondbacks team physician Gary Waslewski, MD, of Phoenix-based OrthoArizona, Dr. ElAttrache and James Andrews, MD, of Gulf Breeze, Fla.-based Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine before ultimately opting to undergo surgery.
Mr. Miller said, "If I tried to take the conservative route and it didn't end up working out, I could possibly miss two years…If I do it right now with no questions asked, feeling pretty good coming back, I'll be throwing bullpens around spring training time."
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