Caleb Ferguson underwent Tommy John surgery, officially ending his 2020 season. Ferguson posted a picture of himself to Instagram after the operation and said he would continue cheering on the Los Angeles Dodgers from afar.
The surgery was a result of the left-handed relief pitcher suffering an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament during a game against the San Diego Padres. Ferguson struck out the only batter faced but immediately gestured to the dugout.
He was checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and a trainer, and exited the game after a brief conversation on the mound. An X-ray and ultrasound proved inconclusive, prompting the Dodgers to have Ferguson return to L.A. for an MRI.
The results showed what Roberts described as a “pretty good tear” of the UCL in Ferguson’s left arm. At the time, Roberts indicated Ferguson was mulling over his options — including attempting to pitch through the injury for the remainder of the season.
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However, a decision to undergo Tommy John surgery was made public the following day. “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.”
This marks a second time Ferguson has undergone Tommy John surgery. The first instance was as a senior in high school in 2014. That is presumed to have played a role in Ferguson falling in the MLB Draft that year, ultimately being selected by the Dodgers in the 38th round.
After beginning his professional career as a starter but being used by the Dodgers in both the rotation and bullpen in 2018 and 2019, Ferguson all but exclusively appeared as a relief pitcher this season.
He went 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 21 games, with one of those being a start in a bullpen game. As Ferguson noted in his social media post, a return isn’t expected until the 2022 season.
Dodgers left-handed relievers
With Ferguson out of the equation, the Dodgers conceivably have an open spot in their bullpen. It could be filled by fellow southpaw Victor Gonzalez, who expectedly has fared well in his rookie season.
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