Matt Moore to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery

Rays left-hander Matt Moore was diagnosed with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow last week. He attempted to throw today to see if the rehab route was a feasible option, but he confirmed to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times after tonight’s game that he will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery next Tuesday.

“What was coming out, it’s a shame to be have to be shut down right now but it just wasn’t comfortable,” Moore said. “Being stuck in the position I am right now, where it’s not exactly comfortable but it’s not exactly completely broke, it’s kind of one of those things where you know it’s going to get worse.”

Surgery is always the last option, but if the rehab route proved unsuccessful, it would only push the calendar back further for 2015. Getting the surgery out of the way now at least gives him a chance to contribute in a significant way next season. The typical rehab time after Tommy John surgery is somewhere around 12 months.

Moore has compiled a 3.53 ERA and 339/165 K/BB ratio over 347 innings in the majors. He turns 25 in June.

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