Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Kyle McPherson suffered a setback in his rehab this week, and was evaluated Wednesday by Dr. James Andrews, the team announced. McPherson was diagnosed with a fracture of the right medial epicondyle and underwent surgery to repair the injured elbow Wednesday afternoon by Dr. Andrews. His estimated return to competition is spring training 2015.
McPherson looked like a potential middle of the rotation starter a few years ago, and even got a brief appearance in the majors at the end of the 2012 season, with a 2.73 ERA in 26.1 innings. From that point forward he has suffered a lot of various injuries, including shoulder issues during the 2012-13 off-season, Tommy John surgery last year, and now this injury.
With most pitchers, Tommy John surgery wouldn’t change their upside. In McPherson’s case, all of the other various injuries now raise doubt of whether he can reach his former upside, or even stay healthy enough to reach the majors again.
McPherson was originally expected to return to pitching in the second half of the 2014 season.
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
According to McFear, “I’ll be ready to win a job in spring. No worries!!”
Which leads me to believe he will re-sign with the Pirates – prolly on a minor league deal like he did this year.
That’s a real shame. I hate to see that happen to any young guy working to get to MLB.
Further evidence that no prospect no matter how far into their development they are ever is a sure thing, not to say McPherson reached a “sure thing” status of course. Hope he can make it back up and possibly build up to be a bullpen option. Everyone likes a good comeback story.
Yikes! How do you break your elbow?? I wish him the best. I predict he’ll be back (or at least I hope he will be!)
I doubt we ever hear from McFear again. Its a shame looked like he had the goods but its tough to pitch at that level without injury anymore.