Rangers GM: Yu Darvish likely to have Tommy John surgery

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish will likely have Tommy John surgery on his injured elbow next week. The team physician, Dr. Keith Meister, recommended Darvish have the surgery after an MRI last week showed damage to his ulnar collateral ligament.

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish will likely have Tommy John surgery on his injured elbow next week, general manager Jon Daniels told reporters Wednesday.

The team physician, Dr. Keith Meister, recommended Darvish have the surgery after an MRI last week showed damage to his ulnar collateral ligament. The Rangers asked New York orthopedist Dr. David Altchek for a second opinion and Altchek also recommended Tommy John surgery.

Daniels said the team will seek yet another opinion and send Darvish’s MRI to renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews before making a final decision later this week.

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“It’s more of a 'why not?' kind of thing,” Daniels said of consulting Andrews, according to the Dallas Morning News. “It’s a big decision. There is nothing to be lost by getting another opinion of a very well-respected doctor.”

Daniels said Saturday that Darvish would miss at least four months if he decides not to have the surgery.

Darvish left his spring training debut last Thursday with tightness in his arm. It was originally believed the injury was not serious. 

Darvish also missed the final seven weeks of last season with inflammation in his elbow.

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New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka elected to forgo Tommy John surgery last season after being diagnosed with a slight tear in his UCL. He was out for about ten weeks and returned to make two starts in September.

Darvish, 28, has played three major-league seasons after playing seven years in Japan. He led the majors with 277 strikeouts in 2013 and finished second in Cy Young voting.

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- Dan Gartland