Cancel that 'strained flexor tendon' diagnosis for Joba Chamberlain. The New York Yankees reliever has a torn ligament in his pitching elbow and is likely headed for Tommy John surgery, meaning he is out for the rest of the season.
This is stunning news for the Yankees, and for Chamberlain. There had been no indication that he was injured this severely and had said on Wednesday "If you asked me to pitch today, I would tell you I could pitch today."
Chamberlain, 25, had been pitching the eighth inning with Rafael Soriano also out indefinitely with an elbow injury. and has been pitching well with a 2.83 ERA.
This is another setback for Chamberlain, who appeared headed for stardom when he came up to the Yankees in 2007 and pitched to a 0.38 ERA in 19 games.
The Yankees have now lost Chamberlain, Soriano and left-hander Pedro Feliciano from the set-up corps for closer Mariano Rivera.