Former All-Star Closer To Undergo Elbow Surgery

It's been three long years now that a former All-Star closer has been fighting to return to the major leagues. But now, at the age of 33, it's another devastating blow to reliever Trevor Rosenthal, who'll undergo another elbow surgery to cut short his comeback bid with the Detroit Tigers this season before it even began.

Trevor Rosenthal is scheduled to undergo UCL reconstruction revision next week, according to Tigers injury report. He had Tommy John surgery in 2017. He was attempting a comeback this season in Tigers system, but pitched just two games at Toledo and another in Lakeland.

— Jason Beck (@beckjason) June 14, 2023

Rosenthal will need to have "UCL reconstruction revision" surgery: a sort of  Tommy John Surgery Revisited. He first had the procedure in 2017. 

He finally made it back to form in 2020, with 11 saves and a 1.90 ERA in the shortened season, but thoracic outlet syndrome derailed his career once again after that. A lat injury in 2022 prevented him from making a comeback last year.

Rosenthal was only able to pitch in three games in the Tigers' minor league system this season before the elbow troubles resurfaced. 

He spent his first six seasons in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals, and was an All-Star in 2015 when he recorded 48 saves, following a 45-save season the year before. 

It's an unfortunate recurrence of the elbow problems for Rosenthal, who now may never get a chance to recapture that All-Star form. 

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