Joel Zumaya Tears UCL; Out for Season

When a player with the injury history of Minnesota Twins right-hander Joel Zumaya is forced to leave camp early in the spring after experiencing discomfort in his throwing arm, it’s natural to assume the worst.  Unfortunately these initial fears were realized Sunday, as the Twins announced that Zumaya had torn his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and will miss the entire 2012 season.

Zumaya was forced to leave a live batting practice session after throwing only 13 pitches Saturday.  After he was escorted off the field by the Twins training staff, Zumaya had his arm examined and eventually underwent an MRI.  The procedure delivered the devastating news, revealing the torn UCL.

At this point Zumaya has a decision to make.  He can opt to undergo Tommy John surgery which will ultimately allow him to make an attempt at yet another comeback.  Zumaya could also decide he’s had enough and call it a career.  The latter is unlikely as the right-hander is still only 27 years old.

Zumaya missed the entire 2011 season due to injury and was looking to make it back to the majors this year.  The Twins signed him to an incentive-laden contract and he seemed a likely candidate to win one of Minnesota’s bullpen seats.  Instead the five-year major league veteran is forced to sit out yet another season while recovering from injury.

Since making his debut for the Detroit Tigers in 2006, Zumaya has possessed one of baseball’s most impressive arms.  Previously able to clock out north of 100 mph consistently, Zumaya turned in impressive numbers for the Tigers over his first five seasons.   Zumaya sports a career ERA and WHIP of 3.05 and 1.350 with 9.0 SO/9 and 4.9 BB/9.

For more on the Twins, be sure to check out Puckett’s Pond.

You can follow Call to the Pen on Twitter at @FSCalltothePen or like us here on Facebook.