The Blue Jays announced that right-hander Yimi García has been placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow ulnar neuritis. Left-hander Brandon Eisert was selected to the roster in a corresponding move. The Jays had two open 40-man spots as Cavan Biggio and Daniel Vogelbach were designated for assignment in recent weeks.
It’s unclear how long García will be away from the club but it’s a blow nonetheless, with the club’s bullpen having been hit hard this year. Closer Jordan Romano has twice been placed on the injured list due to elbow inflammation and is still on the shelf at the moment. He also struggled in between those IL stints with an earned run average of 6.59 in his 15 outings. Erik Swanson was supposed to be a key setup guy for Romano but had an ERA of 9.22 in his 17 appearances before getting optioned to the minors. His nine Triple-A outings haven’t been much better, with an 8.22 ERA in those.
García stepped up and has been the club’s best reliever this year. He has five saves and ten holds with a 2.57 ERA, 34.6% strikeout rate and 6.5% walk rate, but he had to depart yesterday’s game with an apparent injury. The club told reporters earlier today that García’s MRI showed no structural damage, per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com on X. Though the prognosis is unclear, it seems the issue is serious enough that the Jays decided to let García rest up for at least 15 days.
The Jays came into the season planning on that Romano/Swanson/García trio anchoring their bullpen but will now have to proceed without all three of them. Romano could be the next to return, as Shi Davidi of Sportsnet relays on X that the righty could be back on a mound as soon as Wednesday, but it’s still a less-than-ideal set of circumstances for the Jays. The club’s relievers had a 3.68 ERA last year, placing them eighth in the league, but this year’s bullpen group is in 27th place with a 4.69 ERA.
Chad Green is likely to step into the closer’s role for now, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet on X. Green has a 1.76 ERA on the year but that’s a bit of a mirage. His 21.8% strikeout rate is actually below league average and much lower than his career rate of 32.1%. His strong results this year have been helped by a .167 batting average on balls in play and 100% strand rate that he won’t be able to maintain, so getting his punchouts back will be key for him and the Jays.
Though the news is glum for García, it’s an exciting day for Eisert, as the 26-year-old southpaw cracks a big league roster for the first time. An 18th-round selection of the Jays in 2019, he wasn’t able to make his professional debut until 2021 due to the pandemic.
But since then, he has tossed 215 2/3 innings across various levels with a 4.01 ERA, 29.5% strikeout rate and 8% walk rate. That includes 22 2/3 innings at Triple-A Buffalo this year with an unsightly 6.35 ERA, though a .442 BABIP is surely playing a role in that. The Jays are probably more interested in his 33% strikeout rate this year, though Eisert has also walked 13.2% of batters faced. He’ll give the club a fourth lefty arm alongside Tim Mayza, Génesis Cabrera and Brendon Little.
It may end up being a short stay for Eisert since Yariel Rodríguez is going to be reinstated from the IL at some point this week, likely taking the rotation spot opened by Alek Manoah’s UCL surgery. Over the past few weeks, Bowden Francis has been covering that spot as a bulk guy, with Trevor Richards often serving as an opener. But if Rodríguez can take over that rotation spot, Richards and Francis can move to the relief mix to try to offset the loss of García somewhat.
“right elbow ulnar neuritis“ does not sound pleasant
They can put a man on the moon, they need to learn how to throw 95-MPH without using the elbow. Good luck.
Elbow ulnar neuritis
Elbow ulnar neuritis, also known as ulnar nerve entrapment, occurs when the ulnar nerve in the arm becomes compressed or irritated. The nerve can be compressed in several places, but the most common compression location is the elbow.
Causes and Risk Factors
Prolonged stretching of the nerve by keeping the elbow fully bent or direct pressure on the nerve from leaning the elbow against a solid surface can cause ulnar nerve entrapment. This condition is more common in individuals who perform repetitive activities that involve bending or leaning on their elbows, such as:
Cyclists who lean on their handlebars
Musicians who rest their elbows on their instruments
Individuals who work with their elbows bent for extended periods
Symptoms
The symptoms of elbow ulnar neuritis may include:
Tingling or numbness in the ring and little fingers
Pain or burning sensation in the elbow or forearm
Weakness in the hand or fingers
Decreased grip strength
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis is typically made through a physical examination and medical history. Imaging tests such as X-rays or MRI may be ordered to rule out other conditions. Treatment options may include:
Rest and avoidance of activities that exacerbate the condition
Physical therapy to stretch and strengthen the affected muscles
Medications to reduce pain and inflammation
Corticosteroid injections to reduce swelling and inflammation
Surgery to release the compressed nerve
Prevention
To prevent elbow ulnar neuritis, it is essential to take regular breaks and stretch your arms and shoulders. Avoid leaning on your elbows or bending your arms for extended periods. If you experience symptoms, consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
First rate copy-paste work!
I guess he’s trying to educate us, Baron.
Of course.
A couple of people here are having neuritis neurosis.
Jimmy.
tough being a jays fan..
I don’t think Romano has thrown a rehab pitch. Swanson can’t miss a bat and now Garcia lands on the 15 day.
Yeah, it’s time for the retool/rebuild
It’s interesting to note that when the Jays were heading in the right direction, any Jays news would create a huge number of comments. Over the last month, any Jays news would be lucky to garner comments over single digits. I guess many fans have turned off this franchise. The only news that will change this is a change of front office.
Too bad. Garcia has been pitching really well this year and I thought he might be a decent trade chip for the deadline. I hope it’s not too serious and he can get back to pitching like he knows how to.