Kansas City Royals left-hander Jason Vargas was placed back on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday, a day after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
The team did not provide an immediate prognosis, but the injury typically requires Tommy John surgery.
The Royals recalled right-hander Yordano Ventura, who had been sent to Triple-A as Vargas made his first start Tuesday since going on the disabled list June 9 with a left flexor strain.
Vargas left the Royals’ 3-1 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates after throwing just 26 pitches. The preliminary diagnosis was left medial elbow pain, and an MRI exam Wednesday revealed the torn ligament.
Vargas already has spent two stints on the disabled list this season because of the elbow. The 32-year-old is in his second year of a four-year deal that guarantees him $8.5 million this season and next and $8 million in 2017.
He is 5-2 with a 3.98 ERA in nine starts this season.