Regardless of when the MLB season begins, the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen is already starting a man down. There is a decision that needs to be made. The right-handed reliever, Seranthony Dominguez, needs to come to a conclusion about getting Tommy John surgery. Any time that specific surgery is brought up for a pitcher, it spells a long time off the mound. Don’t expect Dominguez to pitch an inning in 2020.
Tommy John surgery means reconstructing the ulnar collateral ligament. In this case, the surgery takes place in the throwing arm of Seranthony Dominguez. Typically, a pitcher will be on the injured list for a year.
While Seranthony Dominguez has yet to decide if he will get the Tommy John surgery, I can’t imagine him pitching within his normal comfort zone without the surgery. The key factor that has kept Dominguez from making such a decision to go through with the surgery is that tests aren’t conclusive of a ligament tear. At this time, Dominguez is at home resting his arm during the delay of the MLB regular season. When the MLB season resumes, Dominguez plans to complete additional testing with the Philadelphia Phillies before making his decision.
When discussing the timetable of the MLB’s return to the regular season, there isn’t a concrete answer. If Seranthony Dominguez were to just get the Tommy John surgery, it could mean he just misses a few months of the 2021 MLB regular season. Of course, waiting through the COVID19 delay to complete further testing would push that date further back if he gets the surgery. It isn’t impossible that if Dominguez waits to get the surgery, he could miss all of the 2021 MLB regular season.
During COVID19, there is one problem that Seranthony Dominguez faces if he were to decide to get the Tommy John surgery. That particular problem is that doctors are focusing on the COVID19 pandemic rather than elective procedures. In the long run, Dominguez is young enough to wait for surgery and rehab. At 25-years-old, Dominguez’s body could heal while resting because of his youth. He’s been fortunate to dodge the Tommy John surgery.
My Take
COVID19 makes this tough because of the aforementioned priority level of the pandemic versus elective surgical procedures. It’s tough because Seranthony Dominguez is back home in the Dominican Republic, which presents an additional challenge to do the recommended surgery. If Dominguez felt discomfort in his throwing arm during the portion of spring training that the Philadelphia Phillies did complete, he should just go get the surgery. He has a big role with the Phillies as the rotating closing pitcher to compliment Hector Neris. The window for Dominguez to play in 2020 is virtually closed, so it would be best for him to be healthy on a redemption tour in 2021.
Mandatory Credit – © John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
