UPDATE: Atlanta Braves Mike Minor Done For Season; Will Have Shoulder Surgery

Bad News and More Bad News

After a heartbreaking loss to the Reds in the bottom of the 9th last night, The Atlanta Braves were handed some more bad news. During the game last night, around 7:00 PM EST, reports surfaced about Mike Minor. Bill Shanks first reported on Twitter that Minor would be having surgery, and Braves beat writer, Mark Bowman relayed that message to Braves fans.

Minor started experiencing shoulder discomfort late in the season last year. After the off-season, he showed no immediate signs of relapse. It wasn’t until about the second week of spring that he began to feel tightness again. He was then shut down and sent to Dr. Andrews for reevaluation. It was hopeful that Minor would be able to rejoin the rotation sometime this season before the all-star break. That won’t be happening now.

As the night unfolded, Dave O’Brien of the AJC would later expound upon the pending procedure for Minor.

This information is a little bit more easy to swallow, but for all intents and purposes, this looks like the end of Minor’s season. It could also possibly be his last time in a Braves uniform. Minor is arbitration eligible at the end of this season.

The Braves can send Minor to free agency by not offering a contract for the next season (2016). This is something very much possible given the recent off-season departures of Kris Medlen, and Brandon Beachy. Both had Tommy John surgeries to end their 2014 campaigns.

The Braves will most likely not be willing to take a chance on Minor, especially since he is now a flight risk. Given how things went with the a fore mentioned hurlers, it seems logical to assume the same for Minor. Minor is expected to undergo surgery sometime this week.

Fox Sports South

“(Dr. James Andrews) said a lot of it’s coming from the (rotator) cuff and it might be just weak. There’s no tears or fraying, none of that. They just said that maybe it’s just weak and it’s causing it to pinch a bit.” Fox Sports South

Indications are that this is a rotator cuff issue as explained by Dr. James Andrews in a report from Fox Sports South. This stemming from the previous evaluation during his set back in spring training.

As we stand by to find out more about his nagging injury, we can only hope that this procedure takes care of the problem.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In a story from Dave O’Brien of the AJC, he notes that the Braves (as of this morning) have neither confirmed or denied the reports of Minor’s surgery. DOB does point out that if no structural damage is found, he could possibly return this season, albeit late in the year, if at all.

DOB goes on to elaborate that every MRI Minor has had revealed nothing structural to worry about. However, every time he starts going again, the shoulder flares up. Hopefully, no damage is found and Minor doesn’t have to have anything “fixed” on site and can work to get back at it.

However, IF no damage is found, the question remains … What could possibly be wrong with Mike Minor’s shoulder? This could be a more concerning issue. If further procedures aren’t required, then what can be done to help get rid of the pain?

Is Mike Minor Done In Atlanta?

Over his career with Atlanta, which spans 5 seasons not counting this year, Minor is 38-36 with a 4.10 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. His best season came in 2013. Minor went 13-9 with a 3.21 ERA and 1,09 WHIP. He totaled 181 strikeouts that season and over his time in Atlanta he amassed 566.

Of course nothing is for sure yet in terms of Minors status with the team, but right now the outlook looks bleak, at best. The silver lining here is that this is NOT Tommy John surgery. It’s exploratory shoulder surgery.

Both Beachy and Medlen had their second TJS of their career last year, and was the primary reason the Braves cut ties with them. Minor, should the news be positive after his procedure, leaves room to believe Minor may not be completely done in Atlanta.

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