HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Astros pitcher Kent Emanuel announced on Instagram Thursday afternoon that he will undergo surgery on his left elbow and miss the remainder of the 2021 season.
"Certainly not how I hoped my 2021 season would end," Emanuel's Instagram post started. "After tearing my UCL in the beginning of 2020, I decided to try and rehab with PRP and BMAC injections to avoid another surgery. Spending much of the pandemic rehabbing, I was able to get back on a mound later in the year - just healthy enough to “power through” my arm not feeling good.
"Over the last couple of weeks, I have seen my performance start to wane. We have realized it’s not just a matter of dealing with arm pain anymore. I will be getting surgery to fix my UCL."
Emanuel didn't specify what type of surgery he would undergo, but he did have Tommy John Surgery during the 2015 season.
The 29-year old, who the Astros drafted in the third round in 2013, made his Major League debut against the Los Angeles Angels on April 24 and tossed 8.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing just two runs. He appeared in 10 games this season and surrendered five earned runs over 17.2 innings, but left his last outing on May 25 against the Los Angeles Dodgers after just four pitches.
Not only has Emanuel dealt with elbow issues on his journey to the Majors, he served an 80-game suspension after testing positive for the performance enhancing drug Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, a suspension he felt was unwarranted and unfair, which is why he chose the jersey number 0.
"Just another road block thrown at my career," wrote Thursday. "Something I’ve become all too accustomed to dealing with. Don’t worry, I will be back."