By Bill Shanks
Foxsportssouth.com
August 16, 2010
Atlanta right-hander Kris Medlen will meet with famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews Tuesday in Birmingham, and then have Tommy John surgery on Wednesday.
Medlen was injured on August 4 against the Mets when he left the game in the fifth inning with a strain in his ulnar collateral ligament in the right elbow. The Braves hoped Medlen would be able to avoid the surgery, but recent tests with the arm showed no improvement in the elbow area.
Medlen had established himself as a starter this season after replacing Jair Jurrjens in the rotation in early May. He did so well struggling Kenshin Kawakami was moved into the bullpen when Jurrjens returned on June 30.
Medlen was 5-0 in 14 games as a starting pitcher. He had a 3.86 ERA, with 86 hits allowed in 84 innings, with 16 walks and 62 strikeouts.
The Braves won the last 11 games Medlen started before his injury and were 13-1 overall in his starts.
Medlen will be on a similar timeframe as Tim Hudson was two years ago, when he had his Tommy John elbow surgery on August 8. Hudson returned last September 1 after his rehab.
The Braves hope Medlen can make a similar recovery, and perhaps help the team out late next season. It
