ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — New York Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova has a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, an injury that often requires Tommy John surgery.
Nova left Saturday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning. An MRI after the game revealed the injury, and he was placed on the 15-day disabled list.
“It’s hard,” Nova said. “I really don’t know what to say. I’m sad right now.”
Nova will be further examined Monday in New York by Yankees team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad. Nova had no discomfort in the elbow until his 82nd and final pitch Saturday when he felt a pop.
If Nova needs elbow-ligament replacement surgery, he could be sidelined more than a year.
“Usually when you have that (tear), it eventually leads to that,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
David Phelps, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno, who started and threw five shutout innings Sunday against Tampa Bay, are in the mix to replace Nova. Alfredo Aceves is starting in the minors for the Yankees at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Photo via Twitter/@juancarlosbuen0
