Rangers right-hander Jonathan Hernandez underwent Tommy John surgery on Monday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. He won’t return to the mound until sometime in 2022. Meanwhile, fellow Rangers righty reliever Matt Bush will miss at least 12 weeks with a flexor strain.
It’s an unfortunate but not unexpected development for Hernandez, who has been on the shelf since March 9 with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow. The surgery will at least temporarily derail a promising career, as Hernandez established himself as a key part of the Texas bullpen last season. Thanks in part to a fastball that averaged about 98 mph, the 24-year-old Hernandez registered a 2.90 ERA/3.67 SIERA with a 24.8 percent strikeout rate and a 6.4 percent walk rate over 31 innings – by far the most of any Rangers reliever.
While Bush doesn’t need surgery at this point, it doesn’t mean he’ll avoid going under the knife, with Grant writing that the Rangers will re-evaluate him in six weeks. Bush has already undergone two Tommy John surgeries in the past, and another could be a fatal blow to the 35-year-old’s career. A No. 1 overall pick of the Padres in 2004 and an ex-infielder, Bush reinvented himself as a reliever and had a strong run with the Rangers from 2016-17. But Bush threw just 23 innings from 2018-20 – none during the latter two seasons – and only logged three innings this year before suffering another arm injury.
WHY BASEBALL GODS!!!
That’s rough for Matt Bush. A few years back I thought he was going to be a great bullpen piece for years.
Same boat as Josh was – drugs wear down the body!
I think Bush has given a valiant effort which has probably came to an end.
i mean he’s also 35
I think it’s because not enough of you guys have left a pair of cleats on Shoeless Joe’s grave, @Rangers29
I’ve done my part.
Time for everyone else to tighten up.
Just send the entire Rangers bullpen to the surgeon, get on with it already
The Rangers bullpen isn’t very good but I doubt if it’s the worst bullpen in the league. The bullpen is the least of the Rangers worries.
The Rangers starting rotation isn’t very good and it might be the worst in the league. If not, it’s certainly very close to being the worst. But the starting rotation isn’t the Rangers biggest worry by any means.
The Rangers offense isn’t very good and that’s putting it mildly. It most certainly is the worst offense in all of MLB and, adjusted for context, this Rangers offense has a good chance to be one of the worst in the history of baseball.
Even though they have made up – the Nolan curse still exists!
This one really blows!
that sucks. this guy is absolutely elite.
what is in the water in Texas?
2 parts hydrogen & part 1 Oxygen (nature’s perfect cocktail!), @MoneyBalletc. So…the usual stuff.
Karma for the latter. Hope him nothing but good health. Goo Angels!
Sounds like Hunter Wood and Hyeon Jong Yang will be called from the taxi squad.
The Rangers bullpen isn’t very good but I doubt if it’s the worst bullpen in the league. The bullpen is the least of the Rangers worries.
The Rangers starting rotation isn’t very good and it might be the worst in the league. If not, it’s certainly very close to being the worst. But the starting rotation isn’t the Rangers biggest worry by any means.
The Rangers offense isn’t very good and that’s putting it mildly. It most certainly is the worst offense in all of MLB and, adjusted for context, this Rangers offense has a good chance to be one of the worst in the history of baseball.
April 12. 2021 Texas Rangers news:
1. Best reliever and best young player on the team and one of the few good young assets in the organization Jonathan Hernandez has TJ surgery and won’t be back until mid to late 2022 at best
2. Announce Matt Bush’s injury will be re-evaluated in 3 months making his comeback attempt, and career almost certainly finished.
3. While playing left field for the 1st time ever, Ronald Guzman sustains a freak leg injury and will almost certainly miss the rest of the season.
4. Get shut out for the 3rd time in 4 games. Picking up 3 hits while striking out 17 times.