Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Caleb Ferguson is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery next week, which brings an end to his 2020 season. Roberts said Ferguson took the news “as good as he could.”
Ferguson’s rehab presumably will sideline him for most, if not all, of 2021 as well. “Just understanding it’s a long road ahead, but we’re going to be with him every step of the way,” Roberts said. “He is a big part of what we’re doing and what we’re planning on doing going forward.
“I just feel terrible.”
Ferguson suffered the injury in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s game against the San Diego Padres. He struck out the only batter faced but immediately gestured to the dugout. Roberts and a trainer went to check on the left-hander, who then came out of the game.
An X-ray and ultrasound that night were inconclusive, which prompted the Dodgers to have Ferguson return to Los Angeles for an MRI. He was placed on the 10-day injured list prior to the series finale with the Padres, and Roberts revealed after the game the examination discovered a “pretty good tear” of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his left elbow.
At the time, Roberts said Ferguson was mulling over whether to treat the injury and attempt to continue pitching this year or opt for surgery. Considering the significant damage to the UCL, it’s hardly a surprise Ferguson elected to have the operation.
He previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014 as a senior in high school. That played a role in Ferguson dropping to the Dodgers in the 38th round of the MLB Draft that year.
After beginning his professional career as a starter and pitching both as a member of the rotation and bullpen for the Dodgers in 2018 and 2019, Ferguson was nearly exclusively used as a reliever this season.
His lone start was as an opener for a bullpen game. Ferguson 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 21 games this year.
Walker Buehler plan
Elsewhere on the pitching staff for the Dodgers, Walker Buehler continues to recover from a blister on his right index finger. Buehler is scheduled to continue throwing at the club’s alternate training site before being activated for one start ahead of the postseason.
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