Baltimore – The news hit the clubhouse a few minutes before it was released to the general public Wednesday night.
“I hate it for him,” Casey Mize said.
Just minutes before the start of the game against the Orioles, the Tigers announced that right-hander Jackson Jobe will undergo elbow surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament.
He will miss the remainder of the season.
“Obviously, having gone through it, it’s a long process,” Mize said. “But it’s one I know he’ll attack. But I hate it for him and I hate it for our team. Jackson is a special talent. It’s a long road but I know he’s going to work really hard and come out of it better and be ready to help us when he gets back.
“But I’m feeling for him.”
No surgery date has been set, nor has it been determined exactly what type of surgery will be used to repair the ACL. General manager Jeff Greenberg, who spoke with reporters after the 10-1 loss, said Dallas-based Dr. Keith Meister will perform the surgery.
“Obviously, it’s really disappointing news,” Greenberg said. “I feel for Jackson. Everybody sees the talent. He made a really positive impression on this team in his short time here. He’s going to work through this. He’s a very determined individual. I have no question he’s going to work through this process and be a really important contributor for this team for a very long time.”
Jobe, 22, was shut down after his 10th start on May 28. He was initially diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his flexor tendon.
“As is standard procedure, we sought additional medical evaluations,” Greenberg said. “And through that evaluation process the UCL injury was also discovered. From there, there were a series of conversations between Jackson, the doctors and our medical staff and ultimately surgery was determined as the path.”
Typically, recovery from a standard UCL repair, Tommy John surgery or a variation of it, takes between 12 and 18 months. Sawyer Gipson-Long is the most recent Tigers pitcher to return from a UCL repair and he did so in 18 months, even though he had a hip procedure done, as well.
Mize is two years removed from his Tommy John surgery.
“I leaned on a lot people when I went through it,” he said. “It’s confusing and frustrating and difficult at times. So if I can be a resource for him, I’m going to be there for him, as will plenty of guys in this clubhouse.”
Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
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