Cubs reliever Kyuji Fujikawa to undergo Tommy John surgery, miss rest of season
Kyuji Fujikawa will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Chicago Cubs reliever Kyuji Fujikawa will undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of this season and perhaps part of 2014, according to Cubs beat reporter Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, citing a statement to reporters on Wednesday from General Manager Jed Hoyer.
The surgery will be performed to address an injury Fujikawa, 32, suffered during Sunday’s win over the Cincinnati Reds in which he heard a popping sound while pitching to the Red' Joey Votto. Fujikawa was examined by a team doctor on Monday and was subsequently placed on the injured list. Hoyer said he thought perhaps the "pop" that Fujikawa described was just lost in translation, according to the Tribune:
"The thing about him saying he felt a pop, to be candid, I think we were hoping it might have been something that was lost or changed in translation. But obviously I think he was right."
The injury comes six months after the pitcher signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with Chicago. Previously, he had spent eight seasons playing in Japan, registering a 1.26 ERA over 541 innings. Lingering arm problems have been limiting him since joining the Cubs, as he has allowed seven runs in 11 innings between stints on the disabled list.
Fujikawa said, "I went all out; I have no regrets," according to the Tribune.
