Jonny Venters signs with Rays while rehabbing from third Tommy John
With troublesome elbows and potential career-altering operations already making headlines this spring, veteran reliever Jonny Venters is hoping to go against the grain and return from his third ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction — aka Tommy John surgery — with the Tampa Bay Rays.
On Wednesday, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reported that Venters, who’s about six months removed from his third operation, had agreed to a two-year minor-league deal with the Rays.
As the contract length seemingly acknowledges, a return to MLB this season would be an extreme long shot. It’s possible he won’t be ready for game action until very late in the season, as the typical recovery time from Tommy John surgery is 12-15 months. And that’s assuming he’s able to return at all. There are no guarantees, but this contract will allow him to rehab with the Rays and will allow both sides to evaluate his recovery and his chances to contribute in 2016.
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We wouldn’t bet against Jonny Venters. Upon hearing the diagnosis last August, it was clear that Venters understood the road ahead and was motivated by what could still await him on the other side.
“It was saddening to hear the surgery failed,” Venters said. “Looking at a third one is obviously not something you plan for. It is what it is. I’ve talked to my family and my agent and all the guys; I think it’s something I want to do.”
Former major league pitcher Jason Isringhausen was among those that Venters consulted before undergoing the third operation in September. In 2011, Isringhausen returned to the big leagues following his third Tommy John surgery. He was 38 at the time and made 103 appearances over two seasons before retiring in 2012. So there is a precedent, and given that Venters will only turn 30 on March 20, perhaps there’s even reason for optimism that his younger arm can bounce back better and for a longer stretch.
As for his complete Tommy John history, Venters had the first operation as a 20-year-old minor leaguer in 2005. He returned to the mound in 2007 and slowly worked his way through the Atlanta Braves system before debuting in 2010. Over his first two seasons, the flame-throwing lefty would be among the most dominant relievers in the league, posting sub-2.00 ERAs in each season.
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Unfortunately, the elbow flared up again in 2012. When he still didn’t feel right in May of 2013, he was examined again and underwent the second operation. The third tear was discovered as Venters neared the 15-month mark in his rehab from that surgery, so there are obviously several hurdles he’ll need to clear before being cleared again.
That’s the reality of it, but there’s next to no risk involved for the Rays. It’s an inexpensive lottery ticket that could provide wonderful profits down the road. There’s no risk for Venters, either. Either he has it or he doesn’t. If he doesn’t, this opportunity will provide the closure he seeks. If he does, then we’ll have a fantastic story that could help change the way Tommy John surgery is viewed.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
