Padres: Cosart to have Elbow Surgery, Expected to Return for 2017

The injuries of San Diego pitchers continue to pile up, but Jarred Cosart is not expected to miss any time for the Padres despite his upcoming surgery.

It is starting to get ridiculous. Yet another pitcher in the rotation of the San Diego Padres is experiencing a lingering injury which requires surgery. This time, it’s Jarred Cosart, a 26-year-old right-hander from League City, Texas. The young pitcher is experiencing a bone spur in his right elbow, requiring a routine procedure to repair it.

Even though it may not have a direct impact on the 2017 regular season, it comes as a surprise and as somewhat of a disappointment to Padres’ fans. After all, Cosart is yet another pitcher experiencing injuries, preceded by Tyson Ross, whose situation is uncertain, and Erik Johnson, who will miss all of 2017 after having Tommy John surgery. A feeling of uneasiness is certainly justified for fans of a team who needs pitching to improve badly, not suffer even more.

There is good news though in Cosart’s situation. It appears that the starter who pitched 37 and 1/3 innings for the Padres last season will not miss any playing time. The estimated recovery time for this operation is six weeks, making it a minor procedure in this sense. Even giving Cosart additional time to recover and get back up to speed before taking the field again, he will easily be ready for spring training in February.

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Despite his 0-3 record and less than impressive 6.03 ERA in 2016, Cosart plays an important role for the Padres, giving them much needed depth amidst their unstable rotation. Not only this, but considering how wide open starting rotation spots will be this coming spring training, the Padres will want to take a close look at all of their options. It’s not like they have all that many, as the pitching staff has struggled to find consistency, proving that they have a need for depth. Cosart, all things considering, is a real option to fill one of these starting roles, as his career 3.92 ERA reveals he is capable of being one of San Diego’s better pitchers.

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If the Padres were to look within to fill a starting pitching void, Cosart would be right in the mix. Starting nine games last season and 66 games in his career, the 38th round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies is one of the more experienced pitchers on this staff. His presence in training camp will be vital, underscoring the importance for a successful surgery and timely recovery and return to baseball activity.