Major League Baseball

Betancourt to have elbow surgery

Published Aug. 30, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Colorado Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt has decided to have Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his pitching elbow.

''He wants to try to pitch again. So if he wants to do that, I think it's the best course of action,'' Rockies manager Walt Weiss said before Friday night's game against Cincinnati.

The 38-year-old Betancourt was injured a week ago while attempting to close out a game against Philadelphia. An MRI confirmed he had torn his ulnar collateral ligament, and he was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Initially, Betancourt considered undergoing platelet-rich plasma therapy, followed by a rehab program. But he changed his mind, deciding he should get the damaged ligament repaired to give him the best chance to resume his career. He is likely to be sidelined for at least a year.

''If he just tried to rehab and went out there, I think it'd be always hanging over his head that he's got a damaged ligament in his arm,'' Weiss said. ''If he's going to get out there and compete again - and he made clear that's what he wants to do - going this route, when he goes back out there, he'll be able to take his best shot.''

Betancourt is 2-5 with a 4.08 ERA and 16 saves in 32 games this season.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball