The Los Angeles Dodgers announced A.J. Pollock underwent successful surgery on Thursday to remove the hardware from his right elbow. Dr. John Itamura performed the operation, which the club said went as expected.
The Dodgers still have not determined a timetable for Pollock’s recovery. Thursday’s surgery was the third he’s had on his right elbow and a result of an infection that developed in the bursa sac.
One year after being selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft, Pollock fractured his right elbow and spent five months recovering. He appeared in 16 games during the Arizona Fall League upon returning in 2010.
Then in 2016, Pollock again fractured his elbow during Spring Training. Another operation and five-month absence followed. Pollock played in 12 games for the Diamondbacks after returning that season.
Pollock’s second surgery entailed a new plate being inserted into his elbow as it was discovered a screw had broken loose from his first surgery. The infection that led to a third procedure stemmed from the hardware that was inserted three years back.
Pollock signed a four-year, $55 million contract with the Dodgers this past January. Although he’s been dogged by injuries throughout his career, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman downplayed any concern.
Friedman’s reasoning was Pollock’s history largely comprised of impact and fluke injuries, not those related to soft tissue.
With Pollock presumably due to miss at least the next month, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged it will create more of an opportunity for Alex Verdugo. That will entail providing Verdugo with more opportunities to face left-handed pitching, which he’s succeeded against thus far.
Chris Taylor also stands to see an increase in playing time as he works to emerge from a slump.
