The Los Angeles Angeles hoped starting pitchers Andrew Heaney and Garrett Richards could avoid Tommy John surgery despite partial tears in the ulnar collateral ligaments of their throwing elbows.
This week, Heaney came to the conclusion he'll have no choice but go under the knife.
After a second examination, Heaney, 25, and the club made the decision to undergo season-ending surgery Friday, a procedure that will likely sideline him all of 2017, too.
Both starters hoped to avoid surgery by getting a stem-cell injection and plasma-rich platelet treatments to repair partial ulnar collateral ligament tears.
For Heaney, that didn't happen. There was no progress in his elbow after eight weeks.
Richards, the Angels' Opening Day starter, received his injection in May. After Monday's exam, Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Richards has shown "progressive healing." He will be re-evaluated in six weeks.
After his only start of the season on April 5, Heaney told the medical staff he felt stiffness in his left forearm. He was diagnosed with a strained flexor tendon and was told to rest. A couple of weeks later, the club said his rehab had "plateaued" and decided to shut him down.
Heaney, a left-hander, went 6-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 18 starts in his first season with the Angels.
