What the Braves thought was a minor setback for Kris Medlen in his recovery from elbow reconstruction surgery will force them to shut him down for six weeks.
Braves general manager Frank Wren said Wednesday that Medlen has lingering soreness in his elbow and will halt his throwing program until September at the earliest.
The Braves had hoped Medlen would return in August and provide a lift to their bullpen for the stretch run, but now Medlen will do well to return before the season ends.
Even if his elbow feels good enough to start building back up in September, minor league seasons are over by then, and it would be hard to find suitable competition for a minor league rehabilitation stint.
“We’re going to have to play that one by ear as we try to get it calmed down,” Wren said. “...We’ve got our fingers crossed that he can come back this year, but it’s more difficult because of the time frame and the limited number of avenues to get him ready, the pitching competition.”
Medlen suffered his first setback in early June with some breaking up of scar tissue, which is considered a common occurrence in recovery from this surgery. But after shutting down for a couple of weeks, problems surfaced again when he resumed his throwing program.
Medlen visited Dr. James Andrews on Monday, and Andrews told him the ligament was structurally sound, but he needed rest.
Andrews performed “Tommy John” surgery on Medlen on Aug. 18. Recovery typically takes 12 months, but it can require up to 18 months.
“The elbow is sound,” Wren said. “He just had some lingering soreness he couldn’t get out from the breaking up of the adhesions.”
Medlen, 25, broke into the Braves’ starting rotation last season, going 5-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 14 starts after taking Kenshin Kawakami’s spot. He was 1-2 with a 3.04 ERA in 12 appearances as a reliever. His versatility has proved to be one of his greatest assets in the short time since his major league debut in May 2009.
