Eric O’Flaherty joined Jonny Venters Wednesday as another splinted set-up man, walking around the Braves clubhouse with a wrap on his surgically-repaired left elbow. O’Flaherty will miss 12 months recovering from “Tommy John” surgery but said he learned it could have been worse.
O’Flaherty had been experiencing related pain in the flexor tendon of his elbow. If that had blown too, like an MRI revealed his ulnar collateral ligament had, he would be looking at an even longer recovery.
“Worst-case scenario for me would be to have the operation that (Red Sox reliever Joel) Hanrahan had to have where his flexor tendon actually blew out,” O’Flaherty said. “So that’s an 18-month recovery.”
O’Flaherty said it was just more confirmation that he needed Tommy John surgery, something he had probably been doing well to avoid since his elbow pain started last June. Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery May 21 in Gulf Breeze, Fla. after a dye-contrast MRI confirmed both the ulnar collateral tear and deteriorating tissue in his flexor tendon.
“He basically said this is just a result of the ligament failing, and the ligament has been failing for a while,” O’Flaherty said. “So it was just going to cause one problem after another.”
As difficult as it’s been to watch the Braves from his couch, O’Flaherty said he’s made peace with his elbow situation.
“I knew it was coming for a while, so I’m cool with it mentally,” O’Flaherty said. “I’m just going to hang out, take my time and get healthy and watch the games. You really root for the team and hope they do well.”
