Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Chad Billingsley has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. The right-hander hopes that a pair of platelet-rich plasma injections will help him avoid offseason surgery.
Billingsley was placed on the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday because of the injury, though he is hopeful that he can avoid surgery with rest and rehabilitation:
"There was an outside chance I would be able to get back, it wasn't very good, but I was able to hold onto that. The night they told me [I was shut down], I thought, 'Crap.' We're in a September race with a chance to make the playoffs. You always want to be a part of it, but now I have to sit and watch."
"They say it has a chance to heal, and the PRP injection should help it recover. I'm keeping my fingers crossed."
Billingsley will now be shut down for two weeks before starting a throwing regimen again. The Dodgers will have a better idea of his progress then. He last saw action on Aug. 24, 2012, throwing just 3.1 innings before being pulled with soreness in his elbow.
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