Diamondbacks RHP Shelby Miller hoping for quick return from Tommy John surgery
May 23, 2017, 5:56 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Shelby Miller delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, May 24, 2016. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
PHOENIX — It’s been two weeks since Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Shelby Miller underwent Tommy John surgery.
Thus far, the news is good.
For starters, Miller has rid himself of the cast he was forced to wear following the procedure. In its place is a brace that covers just about the entire right arm. It helps keep the elbow stable, while also gradually assisting in increasing the range of motion. The brace will be worn for another four weeks, according to Miller.
“Right now, this early in the process, it’s exactly where we want it to be,” he said Tuesday, speaking to a small group of reporters for the first time since the surgery was performed on May 10.
Standing in front of his locker inside the D-backs clubhouse, Miller sounded pleased.
“I’m happy with the decision we ended up making. I was confident the whole time going into it,” he said. “You hear all kinds of different things about the recovery process and how people hurt or have a little bit of aching afterwards and stuff like that. I never really had any issues at all. I never really was in any pain. Me personally, the surgery and everything has gone so smoothly. I think it was a great decision. Now my biggest thing is to just to do everything necessary to get back on the field and do everything right and wise.”
It was a four-hour surgery, according to Miller, and during the procedure, Dr. Neal ElAttrache removed a bone spur on the back of Miller’s elbow.
“It should be something that helps me in the future,” Miller said, referring to the bone spur. “It never affected me but it’s something that they could clear up and get it out of the way and don’t have to worry about it in the future.”
Speaking of the future, it’s going to be awhile before the D-backs see Miller back in uniform. He faces a 12-to-18 month recovery. And while Miller wants to return as soon as possible, he understands the need for patience.
“At the end of the day, you got to do it right and do it the right way and make logical decisions. It’s not something you rush because you don’t want it to happen again,” he said. “Who knows what the timeline is? I’m hoping it’s shorter than longer, for sure.”
Miller was four starts into his second season with the D-backs before experiencing forearm tightness on April 23. Days later, doctors confirmed Miller had suffered a forearm flexor strain and partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
The decision then was made to undergo surgery rather than rehab the injury.
Miller, 26, admitted waiting to be able to take the mound once again is going to be the hardest part of the recovery.
“It’s already hard watching these guys play and not to get be a part of it and then to imagine it being 12, 13, 14 more months is going to be tough,” he said, “but I think it is what it is, you take it in stride and you do the best you can with the what you have. I’m going to be working my tail off to get back as soon as I can.”
BASE HITS
— It was another positive day for center fielder A.J. Pollock, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Pollock, who is on the disabled list with a strained right groin, hit in the cage and was on the anti-gravity treadmill as part of his workout on Tuesday.
“He’s on his feet pain-free and initiating baseball activities and feeling good about it,” Lovullo said, adding about a possible rehab assignment, “I’ve seen players come back without a rehab assignment. It’s not impossible, but we’re not going to do anything at this point in time or make any predictions at his point in time. It’s possible that it could happen, but I don’t know if that’s going to be the case with A.J.”
— Almost a week has passed since closer Fernando Rodney pitched. His last appearance came May 17 against the Mets.
Earlier in the year, the D-backs talked of not wanting Rodney to go too long between outings.
“We changed that thought and he’s had some aggressive bullpens. We feel like he’s ready. He’s given us positive feedback as to making sure that he’s ready,” Lovullo said. “When the bullpen guys are not getting work it’s a good sign that the starters have been throwing the ball very, very good.”
— The bullpen is expected to be very active in the series finale on Wednesday. The D-backs are planning to use a handful of relievers to get through nine innings, starting with Randall Delgado.
“We know he’s equipped to go at least four. We want to see that and if he can give us more, he can give us more,” Lovullo said.
Delgado is making a spot start in place of the injured Taijuan Walker.
