St. Louis Cardinals’ Kyle McClellan out of the season – MLB UPDATE
The St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday, July 12, was met with an unexpected news of closer Kyle McClellan’s ouster from the rest of the season due to shoulder surgery. The surgery which was performed earlier this week to address the frayed labrum and split shoulder capsule will take, as reported, at least four months to recover.
The time period that rehab requires has effectively taken McClellan out of this season now, meaning the Cardinals will not have a capable closer in the bullpen. The news has obviously come as a virtual shock for the closer himself.
"It's disappointing for sure," McClellan said on Thursday. "I thought I was so close [to returning]."
There were previously reports that McClellan was dealing with some problem in his right elbow. In fact, he was undergoing rehab for it. But with the Thursday’s news of his being unable to play the while season due to surgery has stunned many.
He was unable to play after his appearance on May 17. Little did the team management realize that the problem had actually been a serious one, and that it could be his some problem in his shoulder that had led to the elbow injury.
"I put my elbow at risk," McClellan said. "I couldn't get my elbow above my shoulder. Anybody who knows mechanics knows that is a must."
The problem reportedly has been there since last year. As not much attention was heeded to it due to the apparently less critical condition, it eventually transformed into a serious issue, resulting in this surgery.
"It was the same thing," McClellan said. "If it's still going to be there and if it's going to lead to other possible issues, I had to have it looked at again."
McClellan had only recently signed a contract for one year worth $2.5 million, with the Cardinals. However, much to the chagrin of the team, and above all, his own disappointment, he could not play the whole season, ending up with a total of just over 18 innings.
It is to be seen how the Cardinals deal with this issue once the next season opens.
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