Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish may be out for the year. Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
The second medical opinion regarding the injured elbow of Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish agreed with the first, that Darvish needs Tommy John surgery, the Fort Worth Telegram reported Wednesday.
Dr. David Altchek was the latest to tell Darvish he needs the season-ending surgery. However, before Darvish goes ahead with that major operation, he will seek a third opinion, from Dr. James Andrews.
At this point, it seems unlikely Darvish will be able to avoid Tommy John surgery to repair the damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow.
Darvish, 28, was limited to 22 starts last season, going 10-7 with a 3.06 ERA.
–The Chicago White Sox confirmed that left-hander Chris Sale will not be available for Opening Day after suffering an avulsion fracture in his right foot last month.
White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams said Sale will not return to baseball activities for at least 10 days, according to CSNChicago.com. The team’s opener is April 6 against the Kansas City Royals.
–The Tampa Bay Rays signed former Atlanta Braves left-handed reliever Jonny Venters to a two-year minor league contract.
Venters, who turns 30 on March 20, is recovering from his third Tommy John surgery. Venters, who was an All-Star in 2011, hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2012.
—New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez belted his first home run since returning from his yearlong suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, sending a fastball by Boston Red Sox pitcher Brandon Workman over the left-center field fence during Wednesday’s exhibition game in Tampa, Fla.
The 39-year-old Rodriguez hit an 89 mph pitch on a 3-and-1 count in the fourth inning at George Steinbrenner Field. He has five hits in 11 at-bats (.455 average) and two RBIs so far this spring.
–Yankees left-hander Chris Capuano is likely to start the season on the disabled list after suffering a right quadriceps strain during the first inning of an exhibition start on Wednesday against the Red Sox.
Capuano, 36, was expected to be part of the starting rotation this season after re-signing with the Yankees during the offseason.
–Yankees minor-league pitcher Brayan Alcantara was suspended for 72 games without pay by the commissioner’s office for a violation of the drug prevention and treatment program.
The right-hander tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol. His suspension will take effect at the start of the 2015 season.
Alcantara, 21, is currently on the roster of the Yankees’ Dominican Summer League team.
