Westbrook to Have Elbow Surgery; Done for the Season
The Indians pitching staff was dealt a blow today as it was announced that righty Jake Westbrook is done for the season and will have right elbow surgery. Here is the release from the team:
The Cleveland Indians today announced that RHP JAKE WESTBROOK will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2008 season as he will undergo right elbow (ulnar collateral ligament) reconstruction surgery. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum and will take place in the next 7 to 14 days, with no exact date having been set yet. An approximate timetable on his return is 12 months.
Jake was having a tough season, first with a strained muscle in his left side he was on the DL from April 20th to May 28th, and then after coming back one game vs the White Sox, he’s gone again and will be gone for the year.
Westbrook was 1-2 with a 3.12 ERA in five starts this season.
Click below to hear Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff talk about the surgery and Westbrook’s situation:
Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.
