OAKLAND -- A's right-hander Chris Bassitt is a candidate for Tommy John surgery after learning he has a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.
Bassitt, who underwent an MRI on Friday after being placed on the disabled list with a sprained elbow, will seek a second opinion next week before determining his next course of action.
The 27-year-old is scheduled to see Dr. Timothy Kremchek in Cincinnati on Thursday, the same surgeon who performed A's left-hander Felix Doubront's Tommy John operation earlier this month.
Bassitt was expected to be a key member of the A's rotation this season after impressing as a midsummer addition to the starting staff last year and engaging in offseason workouts with Sonny Gray, even tweaking his delivery to mimic Gray's.
The right-hander posted a 2.79 ERA in his first three starts, performing just the way he envisioned, but his last two starts were less successful. He allowed a combined 13 earned runs across just 8 2/3 innings in that span, showcasing decreased velocity while experiencing progressing pain in his elbow.
Worth Noting
• Third baseman Danny Valencia is expected to play in three Minor League rehab games next week before being activated when eligible for Friday's series opener in Baltimore.