Dodgers News: Paco Rodriguez Has Bone Spur In Left Elbow

For as many relievers as the Los Angeles Dodgers invited to Spring Training, they broke camp largely without any surprises in the bullpen. However, as injuries have forced several pitchers to the disabled list those not initially on the 25-man roster have been given an opportunity to succeed.

Paco Rodriguez was the most recent of the relief pitchers to get placed on the disabled list. When he was placed on the 15-day DL, the Dodgers said he would be examined by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. According to J.P. Hoornstra of the LA Daily News Group, Rodriguez has a bone spur in his left elbow:

Paco Rodriguez has a bone spur in his left elbow that will eventually require surgery, the Dodgers pitcher said Friday. However, Rodriguez has been so encouraged by his improvement over the last two weeks, he believes he can postpone the procedure until the season is over. “I dodged a bullet,” Rodriguez said.

In trying to put off surgery, Rodriguez said the ability to rest has been key for him in overcoming the bone spur:

Beyond giving his arm a break, Rodriguez said his time on the DL allowed him to “try to grow scar tissue around the area” of the bone spur. “Right now it’s going good,” Rodriguez said. “The rest was huge.”

The left-hander threw a bullpen session at Petco Park on Friday that manager Don Mattingly said he was able to complete without issue. Assuming Rodriguez doesn’t suffer a setback, he’ll eventually make his way to completing a rehab assignment as Brandon League and Joel Peralta are currently in the process of.

Rodriguez appeared in 18 games, allowed three runs on 10 hits in 10.1 innings and had eight strikeouts before getting placed on the disabled list.

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