Jordan HammVideo Courtesy: Arizona Diamondbacks
2017 couldn’t come quick enough for Shelby Miller.
After having the worst year of his career in his debut season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the 26-year-old pitcher was looking to turn the page, and he was doing just that early in the season.
It seems as though his 2017 could have come to the end on Sunday.
Miller left his start early with forearm tightness and after seeing three doctors, including Dr. James Andrews, it was revealed that Miller has a partially torn UCL and a flexor strain.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have put the pitcher on the 60-day disabled list from the 10-day DL. Miller said the team is still discussing the course of action to take, and Tommy John surgery is an option.
“It sucks,” Miller said. “It’s not good news. You never want to be put in this kind of situation and never would you ever think it would happen to you, but it is what it is. It’s one of those things you can’t really control. I’m pretty torn up for not being able to pitch for a while.”
Miller has generally avoided the disabled list in his six-year career. He missed time last year after scraping his hand along the mound during his follow-through, but hasn’t missed extended time in his career until now.
Miller holds a 4.09 earned run average in 2017 with 22 strikeouts in 20 innings. Before Miller’s early exit on April 23rd, he was coming off the best start of his Diamondbacks career against the Padres, throwing 7.1 innings and giving up just one earned run while striking out five.
The Diamondbacks have selected the contract of left-handed pitcher T.J. McFarland from Triple-A Reno to replace Miller. McFarland has thrown 11 innings without giving up an earned run and striking out nine. Zack Godley started Wednesday night in place of Miller and Taijuan Walker and Robbie Ray’s starts were pushed back a day.
