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Texas Rangers pitcher Chi Chi Gonzalez will have Tommy John surgery to repair a damaged UCL in his right elbow, it was announced today. Gonzalez had been diagnosed with a partial tear of the UCL this spring, and had opted for rest and rehab, along with a platelet-rich plasma injection. After a setback, however, he will undergo surgery, and will miss the rest of 2017 and all of 2018.
This is disappointing news for the 2013 first round pick, who the Rangers were hoping would be a contributor this year. The Rangers must now decide if they want to keep him on the 40 man roster all offseason and all next offseason, with the hope he can pitch well in 2019, or if they want to cut him loose and look at signing him to a mi or league deal.