The anticipated news of season-ending surgery for Kevin Slowey has finally materialized. Dr. Thomas Graham is going to perform the surgery, where bone chips will be removed and the involved bone surfaces will be cleaned up and smoothed out. The recovery time frame being reported is two to four months, but the actuality is that the bone will be healed in 4-6 weeks, followed by a gradual decrease in generalized joint capsule soreness over the next 2-4 weeks. He would then require lengthy rehab in order to regain wrist, forearm, and shoulder strength, and then head out on a rehab assignment - all of which clearly can’t happen before season’s end.
Give the Twins some credit here for doing the right thing by ending his season early and opting for the surgical fix, because some teams might go ahead and try to have the guy try to rehab this sort of injury, only to not get better - or get worse. Said Slowey, "Our medical team and [pitching coach Rick Anderson] and [Gardenhire] have been very adamant throughout that my health has been of the utmost concern. At no point do they want me to go out there and taking painkillers to throw or be out there just trying to gut it out, because that’s not going to help me or the team."
As for the question I received earlier today about whether or not Slowey is a good keeper candidate, I would say that yes, he is - depending on the depth of the league, and your overall needs. Slowey certainly took a big step forward in the first half this year, and owners who drafted him late definitely reaped major rewards (I had him in 2 of 3 leagues, so I should know!).
Anthony Swarzak remains a good AL-only addition to almost any roster.
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