GLENDALE, Ariz. — Dodgers manager Don Mattingly confirmed that pitcher Ross Stripling will have Tommy John surgery tomorrow morning in Los Angeles to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The surgery will be performed by team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
The 24-year-old right hander initially injured his elbow pitching live batting practice Feb. 21. Stripling said he first felt pain while throwing a cut fastball to Joc Pederson, but did not report the injury at the time and even pitched a second inning of live BP.
On Feb. 26, Stripling pitched two innings in the Dodgers’ first Cactus League game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Stripling’s fastball registered in the low-90 mph range, and he did not appear to be throwing abnormally.
However, Mattingly was told that Stripling tore his ligament Feb. 21 throwing batting practice.
“That sucks,” Mattingly said. “The kid was on a good roll. It just changes the timetable more than anything else.”
Stripling is listed as the number-10 prospect in the organization on the Dodgers’ website. He was attending his first major-league spring training on a minor league contract. Stripling went 6-4 with a 2.78 earned-run average in 21 games (16 starts) at Double-A Chatanooga. He posted a 2.94 ERA in six starts with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga before earning a midseason promotion.
Tommy John surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning. Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Everything happens for a reason!
— Ross Stripling (@RossStripling) March 4, 2014
More details in tomorrow’s editions.
