ST. PETERSBURG, Florida, USA – Jonathan Hernandez, a right-hander with the Texas Rangers, underwent reconstruction surgery on his right elbow band on Monday.
The surgery was performed less than two weeks after another Rangers reliever, José Leclerc, went to the operating room for the same procedure.
Likewise, at least until July, the Texas bullpen won’t miss out on fastball specialist Matt Bush.
Jo Daniels, the Rangers’ president of athletic operations, said Dr. Keith Meister was in charge of the Tommy John operation on Hernandez. He added that the operation went according to plan.
Both Hernandez and Leclerc will be eliminated at least until the start of the 2022 season. Meister said Leclerc’s surgery took place on March 31.
Bush has a flexor pull in his right arm and will receive an injection next Tuesday.
Hernández, 24, stood out in the 2020 campaign, shortened to 60 games by the pandemic, with a record of 5-1 and a 2.90 ERA in 27 appearances. He struckout 31 batters and walked eight batters in 31 innings.
It has a sinker with an average speed of 98 mph. But he was in the middle of preseason with a sprained ligament, before deciding to have surgery after an MRI taken the week before.