Tyler Glasnow expresses frustration at MLB's decision to stop using sticky substances midseason after sustaining a UCL injury. (4:10)Sources tell ESPN that Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow will undergo Tommy John surgery next Wednesday. He was still suffering from pain after trying to repair a partially torn ligament in his elbow.Although Dr. Keith Meister will still examine Glasnow next week and may recommend against the procedure for some reason, it is likely that Glasnow, the Rays' ace pitcher, will be out of action for the rest of the 2021 season, and possibly all of 2022.Glasnow, 27 years old, has been a shining star for Tampa Bay when he is healthy. He is 16-4 in 37 starts, with a 2.80 ERA. He has also been able to record 290 strikeouts and 206 innings. Since 2019, he has been plagued by injuries. However, the elbow procedure may allow him to achieve his elite long-term potential.Glasnow, who stands 6'8 and weighs in at 225 pounds, is a formidable figure on the mound. His raw material is even more intimidating. He had a four-seam fastball of 97 mph and often topped 100 mph. This season, he also added a hard slider to his strikeout pitch.Glasnow suffered a partial tear in his UCL shortly after Major League Baseball announced it would enforce its foreign substance rule. Glasnow was critical about the implementation of the rule on the fly, saying that his inability to grip the ball properly led to him holding it differently. This, he believes, caused the injury.Some pitchers continue to play with partially torn UCLs. However, most end up having Tommy John surgery. This is a procedure where a surgeon removes a tendon from the body or from an cadaver to keep the elbow together. The tendon becomes a ligament over time, stabilizing the elbow which is subject to the most strain and stress during pitching.It takes a minimum 12 months for a pitcher to recover from Tommy John. Glasnow's timing leaves the possibility open that he might return to the Rays to compete in the pennant race next year. Glasnow can continue his rehabilitation for the next few month and then reassess the situation over the winter if he chooses to not have surgery. Glasnow and Rays must be healthy for the 2023 season. This will be his last season of free agency.
