Jun 15, 2021 3 min read

Tyler Glasnow isn’t exactly sure what’s going to happen with his elbow injury. But the Tampa Bay Rays ace is certain of a cause: trying to pitch slick baseballs without any grip enhancer.

“I 100% believe that contributed to me getting hurt,” he asserted Tuesday.

A day after an early exit, Glasnow was diagnosed with a partially torn elbow ligament, throwing in doubt his future for the rest of this season and beyond.

“My lifelong dream, I want win a Cy Young. I want to be an All-Star,” he said. “Now it’s over and I have to try and rehab to come back in the playoffs. I’m clearly frustrated.”

An MRI showed Glasnow had a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and also a flexor strain. The test was done after the right-hander was forced to leave Monday night’s game in Chicago against the White Sox after four innings.

Glasnow said he won’t have surgery for now, and instead will try to strengthen the area. He plans to see another doctor on Friday.

“Just don’t throw for a while, but they also said no surgery,” Glasnow said. “So I’m just going to try and rehab it it an try to come back.”

“Hopefully I can help the team out in the playoffs or hopefully sooner,” he said.

If Glasnow chose to undergo Tommy John surgery, that would sideline him this season and could prevent him from pitching next year, too.

American League

Madrigal out for year: White Sox second baseman Nick Madrigal will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair tears in his right hamstring.

The AL Central leaders, who have already overcome significant injuries this season, said Madrigal was expected to be fully recovered by next spring.

Madrigal was hurt last week trying to beat out a grounder. Chicago had put him on the 60-day injured list and held out hope he might recover to play again this year.

The 24-year-old rookie had been a sparkplug for the White Sox, hitting .305 while scoring 30 runs and driving in 21 over 54 games. He was tied for the AL lead with four triples.

A’s pick up Melvin’s option: When the Oakland Athletics turned to Bob Melvin midway through the 2011 season they were seeking managerial stability.

Melvin provided it and more with what he has done on the field and off and the respect he has gained from his players for being fair, personable and unafraid to take chances on youth.

The winningest manager in Oakland team history is staying put through at least next season after the club exercised Melvin’s contract option for 2022 on Tuesday.

“Bob brings a real human touch in a world that’s very much driven by data,” said Billy Beane, the A’s executive vice president of baseball operations. “Bob’s just kept up and he’s stayed in step.”

Melvin has guided the A’s to an 808-715 record since taking over on June 9, 2011. He recently passed Tony La Russa for most victories by an Oakland manager and last weekend became the 35th person in major league history with 1,300 managerial wins.