Cliff Lee Injury: Updates on Phillies Star’s Arm and Return
March 8, 2015 by Tim Daniels
Filed under Fan News
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee underwent evaluation after he felt elbow discomfort in the days following a spring training appearance. It was later revealed he has a tear in his flexor tendon.
Continue for updates.
Lee Throws Bullpen Session, Still Feels Discomfort
Wednesday, March 11
The Phillies provided comment from Lee after a bullpen session, who said, “It does feel a little better. There’s still something there, but it’s not bad. So if it stays the way it is, I think I will be good. Time will tell.”
On March 10, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com revealed that Lee had a tear in his flexor tendon and that if the pitcher didn’t show improvement, surgery was likely.
Jayson Stark of ESPN passed along comments from Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., who said the team was “not terribly optimistic” Lee could avoid surgery.
“It would be six to eight months out. So basically if I have the surgery this season will be done. Possibly my career I guess. I don’t know. We’ll have to see,” Lee said, courtesy of Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer on March 9.
“Obviously you’re going to take your chances on rest and rehab and that’s what we did. So potentially I’m the 3 percent that needs surgery and potentially it’s scar tissue breaking up and it’s normal. But I think it’s early to know which one it is,” Lee added, per Breen.
Stark recorded more comments from Lee regarding his current level of optimism: “I’m not going to go out there in pain to where something bad can potentially happen. I’m going to play as long as I comfortably can. When it’s uncomfortable to play and it hurts to play, then it’s not worth it.”
Lee also suggested he isn’t sure about surgery, per Stark: “I’ve got a family at home and I’ve been away from them for a long time, so that is part of the equation.”
Lee Scratched From Start
Sunday, March 8
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports passed along a statement from the Phillies:
Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News provided remarks from general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. about the situation.
“You have to be alarmed, we have to be concerned because it’s the same area and he feels something,” Amaro said. “It’s the same area, the same issues he had last year.”
Elbow trouble limited the left-hander to just 13 starts last season.
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