Yankees SP Masahiro Tanaka undergoes elbow surgery
New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow, the team announced Tuesday.
Tanaka, 26, is expected to make a full recovery with six weeks of exercise and strengthening before rejoining the team for Spring Training in 2016.
The Yankees said the injury dates back to Tanaka’s baseball career in Japan.
The righthander has been pitching over the last two seasons with a partial tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. Tanaka has not undergone Tommy John surgery, although concerns were raised when a MRI revealed a right forearm strain and tendonitis in his wrist in April.
Fellow Yankees starter CC Sabathia also underwent a bone spur removal following the 2012 season.
Tanaka started 24 games for the Yankees this season, and went 12–7 with a 3.16 ERA in 154 innings.
The Yankees signed Tanaka prior to the 2014 season for $175 million, which included a $20 million posting fee, over seven years.
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