Braves reliever Eric O’Flaherty won’t be able to throw for at least two months after having a surgical procedure to alleviate elbow tension the veteran left-hander pitched with for much of the season.
O’Flaherty underwent an ulnar nerve decompression that Braves interim manager Brian Snitker described as “clean up” procedure likely stemming from Tommy John surgery he had three years ago.
He struggled while pitching with a knot in his left elbow before going on the disabled list Aug. 19 with what was diagnosed as neuritis, or inflammation of a peripheral nerve or nerves.
O’Flaherty had a 6.91 ERA and .320 opponents’ average in 39 appearances, including an 8.24 ERA in his last 23.
“He couldn’t get the extension and get his arm in a good position to throw,” Snitker said. “And I think he was just trying to throw around it. It wasn’t working. So they cleaned things up. He should be, as he goes forward, more back to normal. I guess it was really tight. They went in and cleaned everything out, loosened things up, unlocked it, so to speak.”
Neuritis is defined as inflammation of a peripheral nerve or nerves, usually causing pain and loss of function.
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