Joel Hanrahan Undergoes Tommy John Surgery
By Aaron Somers
Already under the knife to repair a torn flexor tendon, Joel Hanrahan also underwent Tommy John Surgery this afternoon. (Image Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)
Joel Hanrahan underwent surgery this afternoon to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right arm and more damage was discovered than originally expected. The right-hander wound up undergoing Tommy John Surgery as well, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe. Hanrahan will miss at least the next 12 to 15 months, putting a return at the earliest of mid-2014.
Hanrahan produced mediocre results in limited action for the Boston Red Sox this year. In just 7.1 IP he’d allow 8 runs (9.82 ERA) on 10 hits, walking 6. He’d earn the save in three of his first four outings on the year, but things would seemingly fall apart after. Needless to say, it wasn’t the results that Boston thought they were bringing in when they acquired him over the winter from the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s unclear just how severe the concerns were, but there has been some recent speculation that the team knew of some health issues Hanrahan was dealing with before the trade was completed. Buster Olney recently suggested that these issues were part of the reason why the Pirates had such a hard time finding substantial offers for the now 31 year old.
He’ll be a free agent at season’s end.
Pittsburgh shipped Hanrahan (and Brock Holt) to Boston in late December for Stolmy Pimental, Ivan De Jesus, Mark Melancon, and Jerry Sands. Pimental has garnered much of the early attention of the group, going 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA through his first eight starts at Double-A. He’s looked like an improved pitcher with the Pirates organization, though it is his third season at the level which could be a factor. De Jesus is hitting .326/.381/.467 in 105 PA at Triple-A, while Sands has struggled to a .150/.282/.183 mark in 143 PA. Sands, who’d hit nearly 30 HR each of the past two years at the level, has yet to go deep. Melancon has quietly justified the deal completely for the Pirates. In 21 appearances out of the team’s bullpen he’s posted a 0.43 ERA, 0.714 WHIP, 0.4 BB/9, and 9.4 K/9 in 21.0 IP.