Rockies' Weathers sidelined for 2009 by injury
By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News
Published October 14, 2008 at 3:39 p.m.
Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky
Reliever Casey Weathers is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery after suffering an acute ligament tear.
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Right-handed reliever Casey Weathers' fast track to the majors has been put on hold.
The Rockies' 2007 first-round draft pick was diagnosed with "an acute tear of the ulnar collateral ligament" in his right forearm, minor league director Marc Gustafson said Tuesday.
Weathers is expected to require ligament transplant surgery, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, and would miss the 2009 season in a rehabilitation program.
Weathers, drafted out of Vanderbilt, was considering getting a second opinion to confirm the diagnosis.
"It is a tough pill for him to swallow because he was throwing the ball so well," Gustafson said.
Weathers went 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 44 appearances for Double-A Tulsa this season and was a member of the U.S. Olympic team.
He was pitching in the Arizona Fall League, and it was in the middle of an inning in a game Thursday when Weathers felt the pain in the forearm.
He flew to Denver and was examined Monday by Dr. Thomas Noonan, the Rockies' orthopedic surgeon.
Right-hander Ryan Mattheus also cut short his efforts in the Arizona Fall League because of tendinitis in his right shoulder.
He was replaced by right- handed pitcher David Patton, who originally was in the Hawaii Winter League. Austin Chambliss replaced Patton in Hawaii.
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October 14, 2008
4:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
RDenver writes:
Hope this isn't another omen!
October 15, 2008
1:30 p.m.
Suggest removal
arvada_mark writes:
Oh boy! For this franchise, the setting sun is an omen. Is this why they are all of a sudden talking about resigning B-Fuent?
On another note, I guess I never knew there was a Hawaii Winter League. Cool! I'd like to be assinged there, coach.