Gavin Floyd passed the first post-surgery test from a fractured right elbow.
Floyd went to New York Thursday to visit Dr. David Altchek, who performed the surgery on June 25th. The four-week checkup revealed positive healing in the elbow that had screws inserted to stabilize the bone.
“He is real hopeful that it will heal, be strong and (I’ll) be back to where I was before,” Floyd said Friday in the Braves clubhouse before the start of a four-game series with the Padres. “He has high hopes for that. It gave me some comfort for the future. Seeing the progress was exciting.”
There is no timetable for a return of the right-hander. However, the injury was likely season-ending. Floyd will visit Altchek for another checkup and X-ray in four weeks. At that time, the recovery will be re-evaluated.
Floyd suffered the break in the seventh inning of a June 19 start against the National in Washington. He was pitching a two-hit shutout before he fractured the olecranon in his elbow, or the curvy end of the ulna bone at the tip of his elbow, while throwing a curveball. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list the following day.
Floyd had just returned from a year out recovery from Tommy John surgery, also performed by Altchek, and was pitching well at the time of the elbow injury. He was 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 54-1/3 innings in nine starts for the Braves.
Floyd no longer has to wear the brace that has been his constant companion since the surgery.
“I was pretty excited about that,” he said.
The removal of the brace means Floyd can begin a to-be-determined light exercise program. It will likely involve some running and upper-body work to strengthen the area.
“I don’t really want to put too much pressure on it but the whole point is to put stress on it so it will grow stronger,” Floyd said.
The Braves signed Floyd to a one-year contract last December.
“Still no baseball activity but it’s a step in the right direction,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
