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Drew Storen to Miss Half the Season??

February 26, 2012; Melbourne, FL, USA;   Washington Nationals relief pitcher Drew Storen (22) during spring training workouts at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE
February 26, 2012; Melbourne, FL, USA; Washington Nationals relief pitcher Drew Storen (22) during spring training workouts at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-US PRESSWIRE

Earlier today, news broke that Nationals closer Drew Storen will pay a visit to Dr. James Andrews to get his ailing right elbow looked at. He felt pain and had some tenderness in the elbow while throwing a simulated game on Sunday. Here is Adam Kilgore from the Washington Post with an update on his injury:

Storen will almost certainly not need Tommy John surgery, a typical fear when players visit Andrews. But depending on the results of Andrews’s examination, Storen could miss at least half the season because of a loose body in his elbow and the surgery that would be required to remove it.

On March 22 in Washington, Storen underwent an arthrogram, an MRI in which doctors inject dye into the specified area. The procedure showed Storen’s ulnar collateral ligament, which if torn necessitates Tommy John surgery, had no tears and was structurally sound.

Those test results still gives the Nationals confidence Storen will not require the ligament-replacement procedure. But the test also revealed a "loose body" in Storen’s elbow, Johnson said, which the Nationals did not publicly disclose at the time.

If you haven't done so already, race to your league's waiver wire and grab Henry Rodriguez or Brad Lidge while you can. From the sounds of it, Storen may require surgery and miss half the season. Ouch.