Cubs Lose Kyuji Fujikawa to Tommy John Surgery, out for Season

The Chicago Cubs got the news they had been dreading. Kyuji Fujikawa, the team's offseason prize, has a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and will require Tommy John elbow reconstruction, according to MLB.com. 

Fujikawa was injured on a pitch to Joey Votto. He told the Japan Times that he felt an immediate pain with his first pitch and was lifted after just one batter. He was immediately scheduled for an MRI and placed on the DL even before the results, an indication that manual testing by the medical staff had given them a very good idea what the MRI would find.

Fujikawa was previously on the DL early in his first season. That injury was thought to be a strained forearm, but in light of this second, more serious injury, we have to wonder if there was more going on at that point. Fujikawa did come back and pitch well after a month on the disabled list. While his ERA is poor at 5.25, much of that came in a handful of bad outings, some that may have occurred while injured.

The Cubs purchased Fujikawa in the offseason for $9.5 million, hoping that the longtime Hanshin Tigers closer would solidify their bullpen. Fujikawa was expected to replace Carlos Marmol, the Cubs erratic closer of the past few seasons. Instead, injuries and ineffectiveness forced the Cubs to bring in Kevin Gregg, who has been solid in the role.

The 32-year-old reliever now faces a year of rehab from the near-routine surgery. Fujikawa is likely to be throwing during spring training and could be ready by Opening Day of 2014. Relievers sometimes have a longer road back from Tommy John surgery, though there is no clear reason that has been found for why that is. 

As yet, there has been no public decision made on what doctor will perform the surgery on Fujikawa or when that will take place. The Cubs do not tend to go to one doctor, having used several surgeons over the past few years for serious injuries. The surgery is normally done within 10 days, though there have been occasions where it is done later.