Hanrahan undergoes Tommy John surgery, Bailey plans return
Well, this isn’t good for the Red Sox. Thursday, closer Joel Hanrahan underwent surgery to fix the flexor tendon in his arm as well as Tommy John surgery. According to a report from MLB, bone spurs were also removed during surgery.
Dr. James Andrews performed the surgeries in Pensacola, Fla. The really bad news is that Hanrahan could be out for a full 12 months, which means he won’t pitch again this season, and could miss part of the ’14 season. For what it’s worth, he’ll be a free agent after this season.
Hanrahan didn’t have a great start for the Sox, with a 9.82 ERA through nine games. Luckily for the Sox, Andrew Bailey is expected to rejoin the club on the road Monday night before a three-game series against the White Sox. With Hanrahan out, keeping Bailey healthy as a closer will be key.
“I felt good. I threw all my pitches,” Bailey said, after throwing a simulated game at Tropicana Field on Thursday. “The next step is to pitch Saturday in Pawtucket and then be back. Everything feels good. It’s a baseball thing, just getting acclimated again. Everything feels great.”
Bailey hasn’t pitched since April 28 since a strained bicep pulled him out of the game.
