Kelly May Need Season-Ending Surgery

Promising right-hander could be benched

Right-handed pitcher Casey Kelly may have to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery.

On Tuesday Kelly had tests done on his elbow, which has been sore for several weeks.

According to Padres.com he had the X-rays done in San Diego by team doctors.

Kelly came into camp hoping to earn a spot in the rotation, not one of the guarantees but a youngster with a definite shot. He wanted to increase his workload from last seasonโ€™s light 66 2/3 innings between the Minors and Majors.

He began 2012 in Triple-A Tucson then missed five months with a right elbow strain. Kelly made his major league debut as a pitcher in August when he pitched six shutout innings against the Braves.

Kelly came to the Padres as a part of the Adrian Gonzalez trade to the Red Sox in 2010 along with Anthony Rizzo. He started out as a shortstop for Boston and then was converted to a pitcher during his time with them.

But for the 23-year old hoping to make a bigger splash this season on the mound, the tests donโ€™t look good.

โ€œThe doctors are concerned about what the tests look like,โ€ said manager Bud Black. โ€œItโ€™s the part of the elbow weโ€™re definitely concerned about.โ€

Two teammates- Corey Leubke and Joe Wieland, had Tommy John surgery last season.

"There's going to be a lot of discussion between Casey and Casey's family," Black said. "I assume they'll want a second opinion. We want to make sure the right course of action will occur."
 

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