Ryu Hyun-jin's Injury Could Take Him out of Action for Longer

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin's recurring elbow injury could take him out of action for longer than expected, according Sportsnet.

Ryu has been put on the injured list since June 3 for a second time this season due to a sore arm.

Dr. Neal Elattrache, who conducted surgery on the athlete's shoulder in 2015, evaluated his elbow, and Ryu is considering other treatment options. "Whatever decision Ryu and the Blue Jays make, he appears likely to miss extended time," Sportsnet said last Friday.

Earlier, Jays general manager Ross Atkins said there have been "chronic changes" to Ryu's elbow after checking his MRI data, but it is nuclear whether Elattrache recommended the so-called "Tommy John surgery," which repairs a torn ligament inside the elbow by replacing it with a tendon from elsewhere in the body. Elattrache is the foremost expert on the procedure.

It could take up to 15 months to recover fully from the surgery, so if Ryu decides to have it there is little chance that he will return to the team's mound since his contract ends next year.