Hudson could miss rest of the season and most of 2009 with Tommy John surgery.
The Atlanta Braves recently got one pitcher back from Tommy John surgery in the form of Mike Gonzalez, but 2008 may claim two in return. Earlier this season, Peter Moylan was forced into the elbow ligament replacement surgery and now it appears ace Tim Hudson will go under the knife next. Hudson received identical opinions from Braves orthopedist Xavier Duralde and famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews, that Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament would be necessary. The Braves revealed during Monday’s game that Hudson’s MRI didn’t go well and the pitcher traveled to Birmingham to see Dr. Andrews Wednesday. Despite the diagnosis, Hudson will wait a few days before deciding on whether or not to undergo the ligament-transplant elbow surgery. The typical recovery time is 12 months, which would put Hudson, who is under contract with the Braves for $13M in 2009 and a $12M mutual option for 2010, out until August 2009. Hudson told reporters Monday that he “was floored,” when he found out the results of the MRI. The test revealed, according to Frank Wren in Monday’s make-shift press conference, “some [of the damage] appears to be new. Other parts appear to be an older injury.”
Hudson is scheduled to throw a bit this weekend, likely Sunday before the Braves play Milwaukee. Should the injury persist, Hudson will likely undergo the surgery as soon as next week and begin the lengthy rehab.
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