Scott

Williamson

Williamson, who has been pitching on the side without pain despite the fact he will need off-season surgery to repair a ligament impingment in his elbow, hopes to return to the Red Sox active roster this week.

He threw some split-fingered fastballs and some sliders and did not report any difficulties with his right arm or elbow. Williamson is on track to be activated off the disabled list this Friday. There is still a strong chance he will need off-season surgery to repair the damage in his right elbow.

The Red Sox reliever will likely be activated today after a lengthy stay on the disabled list.

He will pitch again from the bullpen mound before this evening’s game agaisnt the Angels. Williamson, who thinks he may be able to return to active duty within the next 7-10 days, is still facing the strong possibility he will need to undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow this month.

It won’t be known whether he’ll need Tommy John surgery until after Reds medical director Tim Kremchek gets into the elbow. A lesser procedure could leave him ready for next season.

During surgery, it was discovered Williamson pitched the last month with a completely torn ulnar collateral ligament, mangled cartilage ripped from the bone on the outer part of the elbow and several bone chips and loose bodies within the cavity of the joint. “I couldn’t believe what I saw,” said Dr. Tim Kremchek. “It looked like a grenade had gone off in there. The damage was far worse that the MRIs or any examination alluded to.” Williamson, set to become a free agent, will probably sign an incentive-laden two-year deal with some team.

The outcome appears to be this: Williamson will rest for 10 days, and if he has no improvement in his elbow, he’ll have the team’s blessing to have Tommy John surgery.

That would probably be the quickest comeback in the history of the procedure. It’s more likely that Williamson will return in August or September, and he might not help the Cubs at all this year.

Williamson felt a pop in his elbow during his last outing, but the diagnosis of scar tissue appears to be correct.

He’s unlikely to see any game action until tomorrow at the earliest.