Tigers pitcher Bonderman undergoes emergency surgery; Zumaya scheduled to pitch in Toledo

6/7/2008

DETROIT Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman underwent two procedures to relieve a blood clot of the axillary vein, which takes blood from the arm back to his heart.

Bonderman, 25, was taken to the Detroit Medical Center yesterday, where a blood clot was discovered below his right shoulder, near his first rib. Doctors performed a thromblysis to dissolve the clot last night and followed up with an angioplasty today.

Tigers trainer Kevin Rand said Bonderman should be released from the hospital today, and will undergo further tests to determine what caused Bonderman s condition. Rand said it s likely Bonderman s vein was being pinched by his rib, and if so, that rib will be removed by surgery.

Bonderman was placed on the disabled list yesterday and could miss the rest of the season.

In other Tigers news, relief pitcher Joel Zumaya will continue rehabbing from right shoulder surgery in Toledo, as early as tomorrow. Detroit manager Jim Leyland said he will be at Fifth Third Field tomorrow night to watch Zumaya and fellow rehabbing reliever Fernando Rodney pitch against Columbus.

Leyland said Zumaya s promotion from Single-A Lakeland to Toledo does not mean his timetable to returning to the Tigers bullpen has been accelerated.

Also at Comerica Park today, the Cleveland Indians announced that pitcher Jake Westbrook will miss the rest of the season because of right elbow surgery commonly known as "Tommy John" surgery.

Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Westbrook is expected to be pitching in the big leagues again 10 to 14 months after surgery that will be performed in 7 to 14 days.