05/18/26 09:18:00
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05/18 21:17 CDT Dodgers' Blake Snell will undergo surgery to remove loose
bodies from elbow in bid to return sooner
Dodgers' Blake Snell will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from elbow in
bid to return sooner
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
SAN DIEGO (AP) --- Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell will undergo
surgery Tuesday to remove loose bodies from his elbow, general manager Brandon
Gomes said.
The Dodgers are optimistic that the procedure will allow Snell to return to the
mound earlier than other treatment options, although the $182 million starter
will still be sidelined for a significant amount of time. Gomes said Snell will
have the same surgery as Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who has the same
elbow problem, with the intention of returning this season.
"Hopefully it's the shorter timeline," Gomes said. "That's the hope and the
expectation right now. Obviously don't know 100% until we're in there, but
that's what we expect."
The injury-plagued World Series champions also signed veteran reliever Jonathan
Hernndez and optioned reliever Chayce McDermott back to the minors after one
appearance, making their latest pitching shuffle Monday before they faced the
NL West rival San Diego Padres for the first time this season.
Hernndez opted out of his minor league contract with Philadelphia on Monday
after making 13 appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, going 1-0 with a 4.80
ERA and 22 strikeouts over 15 innings.
Hernndez appeared in parts of five seasons for the Texas Rangers before
bouncing through the minors with Seattle, Tampa Bay and the Phillies over the
past two years. He hasn't pitched in the majors since making three appearances
for the Mariners in August 2024.
McDermott made his Dodgers debut with one scoreless inning in their 10-1
victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
The Dodgers acquired the right-hander in a trade with Baltimore last month.
The Dodgers are going through another year of significant injury problems for
their pitching staff, forcing them to shuffle their rotation and bullpen on a
weekly basis yet again. Los Angeles still has the majors' second-lowest ERA at
3.21 entering its trip to Petco Park.
"We've dealt with this in the past," Gomes said. "It's the reason you try to go
in with as much depth as you can, knowing that things can happen. You hope that
they don't pile up at the same time, which has been happening as of late, but
we'll keep navigating it and work through it like we have in the past."
High-priced starters Snell and Tyler Glasnow are out of the Dodgers' rotation
due to injuries.
Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Glasnow's injured back recently "flared
up," preventing him from throwing off a mound yet. Snell has made one start for
the Dodgers this season, while Glasnow left his seventh start of the year with
his injury nearly two weeks ago.
Edwin Diaz, the majors' highest-paid reliever, is likely out for at least three
months after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow after just
seven appearances with his new team. The Dodgers then lost left-hander Jack
Dreyer, their most-used reliever this season, to shoulder discomfort last
weekend.
Roberts also said long-injured reliever Brusdar Graterol has had another
setback in his recovery from a back injury. The hard-throwing Graterol, who
hasn't pitched in the majors since the 2024 World Series, had been pitching for
Triple-A Oklahoma City.
"He'll be shut down for a while," Roberts said.
Gomes said surgery on Graterol's lower back is a possibility.
The Dodgers' other injured pitchers with significant major league experience
include right-handers Brock Stewart, Evan Phillips, Ben Casparius, Landon
Knack, Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller and Jake Cousins.
Utilitymen Kik Hernndez and Tommy Edman have also missed the entire season to
date with injuries, but both are tentatively expected back within the next
month.
The Dodgers transferred Casparius to the 60-day injured list to make room for
Hernndez on the 40-man roster.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
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