Alex Cobb Injury: Updates on Rays Pitcher's Elbow and Recovery

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Alex Cobb has a fully torn ligament in his right elbow and will need season-ending surgery. 

Continue for updates.

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Cobb Says He'll Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Friday, May 8

Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune reported that Cobb said he would be undergoing Tommy John surgery on his injured elbow, which would end his season.

Mooney also reported that Cobb has a fully torn UCL and that Dr. James Andrews would do the surgery, noting that Cobb is targeting a return in September of next year. 

On May 5, Yahoo Sports passed along the details of the injury:  

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times noted Tuesday that Cobb's season is "very much in jeopardy." 

Cobb has not pitched a single inning this year because of a forearm injury, which is a difficult blow for a Tampa Bay squad that planned on using him as an ace.

ESPN.com noted that the Rays canceled his throwing session Sunday, according to manager Kevin Cash: "He just didn't feel as good as he was hoping. Any time you're dealing with a pitcher's arm, it's obviously concerning."

Cobb started 27 games last season and finished with a 2.87 ERA and 1.14 WHIP.

The hope was that the 27-year-old would take yet another jump this season and become one of the best pitchers in the American League for years to come. Now there is concern that he may never be the same.

Tommy John surgery is a scary proposition for pitchers, and it could impact him moving forward for the rest of his career. He is only 27 years old, but with the surgery, he could be looking at the 2017 season as the next time he takes the mound.

That would mean multiple years off (and multiple years of aging and accumulated rust), and his status as an ace in the American League East would be in serious jeopardy.