On Monday Andy Bunker and Randy McMichael were joined by 92.9 The Game Braves Reporter, Joe Patrick, who spoke about right-handed relief pitcher Luke Jackson’s injury.
“I think he (Luke Jackson) is going to be out for the entire year. I fully expect Luke Jackson to have Tommy John surgery,” said Patrick when asked about how long he thought Jackson may be out with his current injury.
“It’s one of those injuries that’s a tough one for a pitcher because yes could he potentially rehab it, come back in the middle of the season and maybe be able to pitch again…maybe. But there is also the chance that he can rehab it, he tries to come back, is not able to rehab it, then he needs Tommy John (surgery) in the middle of the season. If he has Tommy John in the middle of the season that takes him out for all of next year too so I think just for him personally it’s going to make a lot more sense to just go ahead and get that taken care of now that way next season can kind of stay in the balance for him when he becomes a free agent,” Patrick continued.
During the full length interview Patrick went into detail about how the Braves may have known the extent of Jackson’s injury based on their off-season moves leading up to the season.