Twins Closer To Undergo Season Enging Surgery

By Justin Worsley

Twins closer Joe Nathan has announced this morning that he will undergo Tommy John Surgery to replace a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. The right-handed pitcher damaged his elbow earlier in the month during an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox.

Nathan was holding on the the slim hope that he would be able to prevent surgery this season, despite the Twins diagnosing his elbow as a "significant" UCL tear in his elbow. Recovery from the surgery will take 12 months. Nathan hopes to return for opening day next season.

The decision came by Nathan after a throwing session with pitching coach Rick Anderson. Nathan said his elbow felt fine until the two separated to about 60-70 feet apart, where Nathan felt the same stiffness he felt when he first injured his elbow.

"It didn't go like we hoped," Nathan said. "We knew this was a long shot but what this did do was clear my head."

Nathan, 35, is a significant part of the Twins pitching staff, saving 47 games last year in 52 attempts, along with a 2.10 ERA.