BREAKING NEWS: Masahiro Tanaka Diagnosed With Partially Torn UCL

Jul 7, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda (left) and starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (19) sit in the dugout in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Yes you read the headline correctly. According to multiple reports, a rotation and a team hanging by a thread just got really bad news. Brian Cashman announced on a conference call that according to three doctors Masahiro Tanaka has a partial tear of his UCL in his right elbow. That is the Tommy John ligament.

Cashman said 3 Drs examined Tanaka, all agree partial tear UCL. Will get PRP injection, begin rehab, hope to be back in 6 weeks.
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) July 11, 2014

Cashman said if Tanaka's rehab doesn't work, Tommy John surgery is likely.
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) July 11, 2014

If he needs, he will be the third Yankees on the 40-man roster (Ivan Nova and Jose Campos) to need the surgery. This diagnosis is very similar to the diagnosis that Matt Harvey got last season. He tried to rehab it and eventually needed the surgery.

The recommendation for now is to rehab and best case scenario, he like Michael Pineda, would be back in August. All three doctors say it’s a small tear and that rehab will help, but again, you never know with these things. It’s not all doom and gloom yet for the golden right arm of Tanaka, though we could be getting close to it.

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