photo: Jordan Hicks (Jeff Curry/Imagn)
The course of action for St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Jordan Hicks’ elbow injury has not been decided, but it is significantly more serious than originally thought.
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals learned today, Monday, June 24, following an MRI examination of Jordan Hicks right elbow, that the reliever has a torn ulnar collateral ligament and the team is determining the next course of action for Hicks.
Hicks, 22, was removed from Saturday’s (June 22) game in the 9th inning after 1.1 innings pitched. The second-year reliever is 2-2 with a 3.14 ERA and team-leading 14 saves in his 29 games pitched this season, striking out 31 in his 28.2 innings of work.
Brian Walton’s take
Perhaps the Cardinals took this unusual step of providing interim information since the news is significantly worse than over the weekend, when we were led to believe the injury was not serious and Hicks’ availability was a day-to-day decision. With the team off Monday and no reporters around, they apparently wanted to get this update out quickly. My guess is that next, a second opinion will be secured and Hicks will decide what course to take.
Since the above release does not specify his treatment plan, it also has no timeline for his return. The primary question appears to be whether Tommy John ligament replacement surgery will be required and the customary 12 months recovery follows. If so, Hicks may be out for the rest of the season and perhaps the first half of 2020 as well.
Based on his success in the role late last season, Carlos Martinez would seem to be the top candidate as replacement closer, with John Gant as another strong possibility. Less likely but not impossible are lefty Andrew Miller and right-handers John Brebbia and Giovanny Gallegos.
I anticipate the team will move Hicks to the injured list on Tuesday and add a replacement reliever from Triple-A Memphis for the opener of the Oakland series.
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