Gallen shut down with UCL sprain
18 minutes ago
D-backs right-hander Zac Gallen was scratched from Wednesday night’s start against the Marlins and placed on the 10-day injured list with what manager Torey Lovullo said was a “minor sprain of one section of his UCL [ulnar collateral ligament] in his right elbow.”
Gallen will be shut down for two weeks, according to Lovullo, before being re-evaluated.
“Right now, we’re trying to put a whole bunch of information together,” Lovullo said. “We have multiple opinions that are coming in, and as of right now, it looks like we’re going to reassess in a couple weeks.”
Injuries to the UCL can often lead to Tommy John surgery, but Lovullo did not want to go down that road at the moment.
“I’ve heard so many different conversations today that I’m going to remain as optimistic as possible,” Lovullo said. “I’m not going to put a timetable on it. I just know we’ll reassess in a couple weeks, and hope for the best news at that point in time.”
Losing Gallen, who is arguably the best starting pitcher the team has, for any period of time is going to be a blow for the D-backs. Gallen opened the year on the injured list, and he missed his first two turns through the rotation due to a hairline fracture in his right forearm. The two injuries are unrelated, Lovullo said he was told by the medical staff.
The D-backs recalled right-hander Seth Frankoff from Triple-A Reno to replace Gallen on the roster, and long man Matt Peacock will start in Gallen’s place Wednesday night.
First baseman Christian Walker was also placed on the 10-day injured list with right oblique soreness. Walker was on the IL with a right oblique strain from April 12-May 3.
Infielder/outfielder Andrew Young was recalled from Reno to take Walker’s spot on the roster. In order to add Frankoff to the 40-man roster, the team designated infielder Wyatt Mathisen for assignment.