Sacramento, Calif. — The season is over for Tigers’ reliever Will Vest.
Manager AJ Hinch announced before the game Friday that Vest had surgery to repair a fractured olecranon bone at the base of his elbow on Wednesday in Dallas. In addition to that, he will have an arthroscopic procedure on his hip in a few weeks.
“It’s really been tough to watch him go through this season,” Hinch said.
Vest, who nursed hip inflammation most of the season, went on the injured list on June 28 with what was diagnosed as a stress fracture. It wasn’t showing signs of healing and after consulting with specialist Dr. Keith Meister, surgery was recommended.
“We have leaned on this guy over the last two years to be an instrumental part of either as a bridge to get to the finish line or the actual finish line,” Hinch said. “We’ve really missed him. He’s been part of the path to a win in so many different ways, including some really cool wins (two wins, two saves in the postseason) the last couple of years.
“Having him struggle and the losing him for half the season is definitely a blow.”
He never did get fully on track this season, posting an uncharacteristically high 6.08 ERA with just two saves in seven chances, plus five losses.
The Tigers’ bullpen has suffered without him, as evidenced by 18 losses after having the lead in the seventh inning or later and having 25 blown saves and just 21 saves.
Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com
@cmccosky
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers’ reliever Will Vest out for season after elbow surgery
Reporting by Chris McCosky, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Chris McCosky, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
