Report: Yankees' Chase Whitley tears UCL, Tommy John surgery possible

New York Yankees pitcher Chase Whitley has torn his UCL and could require Tommy John surgery, according to CBS Sports.

An initial diagnosis Friday suggested New York Yankees pitcher Chase Whitley tore his UCL and could require Tommy John surgery, according to a CBS Sports report. Whitley will seek a second opinion before deciding whether to have the surgery, the report said. 

The Yankees placed Whitley on the 15-day disabled list earlier Friday with a right elbow sprain, the team announced. 

Whitley left his Thursday start against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning with a right elbow injury. He threw 43 pitches before being removed following a visit from head athletic trainer Steve Donohue.

"It's in that area you don't want to talk about," manager Joe Girardi said after the game.

The Yankees recalled pitcher Jose Ramirez from Triple A to take Whitley's place on the roster. Ramirez has a 2.95 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings with the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders in 2015. 

Whitley was evaluated by the team physician and was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday. In his three starts entering Thursday, Whitley gave up six earned runs in 17 2/3 innings with a record of 3–0.

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The Rays won Thursday's game 6–1. The Yankees play the Royals in Kansas City on Friday. 

- Molly Geary