Pat Neshek Is Out For the Season

I was watching the Twins and White Sox last Thursday when Pat Neshek hurt his elbow. It came the way you never want to see a pitcher get hurt (save for maybe a line drive off their head): Just throwing a pitch. Neshek has always had one of the oddest deliveries I've ever seen from a pitcher, and it has the kind of spastic motions where I felt it was only a matter of time before something went wrong.

Well, when Neshek threw a slider during the 8th inning of the game on Thursday, something went wrong. Neshek immediately clutched at his elbow, and was walking off the field shortly after. The injury is as bad as it looked, as Neshek won't be pitching again this season.

Neshek will not be allowed to throw for a minimum of three months, which means the injury has effectively ended his season. But he said he won't need surgery.

The ulnar collateral ligament is the same ligament that pitchers have repaired when they undergo Tommy John replacement surgery.

"Obviously it's really bad, but it's good I can come back and rehab this and not have to go through surgery and sit out for a good year," Neshek said after Friday's game, his arm fully wrapped.

Neshek's loss is a big on for the Twins bullpen, as they'll now need to find somebody else to get the ball to Joe Nathan. Jesse Crain and Matt Guerrier will probably take over Pat's spot in eighth inning.

There was no word on how the injury will affect Pat's blogging.