Volquez to undergo Tommy John surgery

August 1st, 2017

MIAMI -- , the Marlins' Opening Day starter and the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the Majors this season, has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow that will require Tommy John surgery on Friday.
The Marlins signed Volquez to a two-year, $22 million contract in the offseason to provide a veteran presence at the top of their rotation. Now, the 34-year-old is expected to need about 12-14 months to recover.
"It's a devastating blow, no question," Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said on Tuesday night. "We brought him in to be a veteran stabilizer to this rotation. To lose him with the knee was a big blow. But now to know the elbow needs to be repaired is definitely difficult to deal with."

This will be Volquez's second Tommy John surgery, both performed by Dr. Timothy Kremchek. The procedure is scheduled for Friday in Cincinnati. While with the Reds in 2009, Volquez underwent his first surgery.
Volquez has been on the disabled list since July 7 with left knee tendinitis.
"During the course of rehabbing his knee, Edinson Volquez complained of elbow pain," Hill said. "So we sent him for a second MRI, which revealed he had a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament. He will need Tommy John surgery."
Volquez made 17 starts this season, going 4-8 with a 4.19 ERA. He also made history on June 3 at Marlins Park, when the right-hander no-hit the D-backs in a 3-0 win.

It has been an injury-plagued season for Volquez, who went on the DL from May 3-12 with a right thumb blister.
The Marlins signed Volquez, who was with the Royals from 2015-16, because he had been durable in recent years, throwing at least 170 innings since 2011.
Starting options in the rotation are thin, with left-hander and right-hander Tom Koehler as the main 40-man roster options currently at Triple-A New Orleans.
"You never can have enough depth," Hill said. "You're challenged every day with whatever happens, and you have to deal with it. This club has dealt with a lot over the course of the last 12 months. It's just another thing we will deal with and overcome."