Tommy John Surgery Could Be Looming For Braves Reliever

It appears that the recent bullpen additions of Kenley Jansen and Collin McHugh couldn't have come at a better time for the Atlanta Braves, who have now lost one of their top relievers from 2021 for quite some time. Luke Jackson has been diagnosed with ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) damage. 

This diagnosis often leads to Tommy John surgery. With Luke Jackson out of the picture, the Braves will gain even more value from the recent additions of Jansen, McHugh and Thornburg https://t.co/LRdAOshxkS

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) April 2, 2022

An MRI delivered the bad news, and while the team's release says a "comprehensive evaluation" will determine the next steps, Braves beat reporter Mark Bowman notes that UCL damage often requires Tommy John surgery. That would keep Jackson out of the Braves 'pen until well into next season. 

After a rough shortened season in 2020, the 30-year-old Jackson flourished in 2021,  posting a stellar 1.98 ERA and 9.9 strikeouts per 9 innings. 

He's spent the last five of his seven seasons in the majors with the Braves, and has pitched to a 3.93 ERA over that time, but last year was truly his breakthrough. 

Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports