Detroit Tigers reliever Luke Putkonen, who has been out of action for most of this season due to right elbow issues, isn't headed for surgery in the near future.
The Free Press reported Thursday that Putkonen's appointment with noted specialist Dr. James Andrews on Wednesday produced that bit of good news. Andrews had performed Putkonen's first Tommy John surgery nearly 10 years ago, before he took the mound collegiately for North Carolina.
Putkonen was placed on the 15-day disabled list April 21 with right elbow inflammation after allowing eight runs and six hits in two appearances for the Tigers this season. At the time, an MRI taken showed the elbow to be structurally sound, but after a rehab assignment didn't turn out like Putkonen had hoped, the team sent him to Andrews for another opinion.
Detroit manager Brad Ausmus told the paper that the 28-year-old right-hander will continue his recovery "with treatment and rehabilitation."
[SportsNetwork.com]
