Detroit Tigers Spring Training: Bruce Rondon Out For The Season

Sep 1, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Bruce Rondon (43) pitches in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Cleveland won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers delivered some more bad news regarding injuries today.  Relief Pitcher Bruce Rondon will miss the rest of the season after receiving Tommy John surgery. According to an  article by John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press, Rondon’s elbow started bothering him last week.  That prompted the Tigers to have him evaluated by none other than Dr. James Andrews.

"Earlier in the week, his elbow was bothering him. We, in turn, sent him to see Dr. Andrews on Wednesday and it has been confirmed by our doctor and Dr. Andrews he is going to need Tommy John surgery. He will be ready to go for the 2015 season.”"

Bruce Rondon was slotted to be the set-up man for closer Joe Nathan this season after the Tigers lost Joaquin Benoit to free agency.  Now the Tigers are going to have to fill a need in the bullpen a day after losing their starting shortstop to shin splints.  That said Dave Dombrowski feels confident that he will be able to fill the need internally.

"We’ve dealt with a lot of issues, and this another we’ll deal with. We’ve got some guys that will have to step up. … Our goal at this time is to try to handle it internally. At this time of year, you’ve always got your ears out to other places. But we feel comfortable.”We signed Joba Chamberlain in the wintertime, (Al) Alburquerque is back after surgery. We’ve got Ian Krol that we’ve added. Evan Reed has thrown the ball very well for us in the spring. So we have some depth there.You also have (Luke) Putkonen out there that did a good job for us last year. (Phil) Coke has been throwing the ball better. I’m not saying they are going to be the eighth-inning guy, but they all have a chance to help us.”"

So it looks like the same line-up of usual suspects that Manager Brad Ausmus will have to point to for the 8th inning role. Hopefully one of the player’s Dombrowski mentioned will be able to step up, otherwise we may have the 8th inning by committee and we all know how that turned out last season.