Los Angeles Angels’ JC Ramirez opts for stem-cell therapy

The Los Angeles Angels lose another starting pitcher to injury during their playoff run, putting JC Ramirez’s next season into serious question.

The Los Angeles Angels did not know what they were getting when they claimed J.C. Ramirez off waivers last year from the Cincinnati Reds. Sporting a 6.40 ERA at the time, Ramirez was destined to be a bullpen pitcher. Fast forward to today, Ramirez has been a surprise becoming one of the lone bright spots on the Angels’ starting rotation. Well, his season is over.

On Wednesday according to the Los Angeles Times, Ramirez has been diagnosed with a partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, putting his season to an end. Much like Angels’ starting pitchers Garret Richards and Andrew Heaney, Ramirez has also opted to take a steam-cell injection, hoping it will heal the tear in his elbow.

Ramirez joins starting pitchers Matt Shoemaker and Alex Meyer whom are also on the DL with season ending injuries.

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Luckily for the Angels, they’re getting the right guys back at the right time. With only a handful of games left in the season, every game counts and finally the Angels are getting some of their top arms back including: Garret Richards, Tyler Skaggs and Andrew Heaney. Hopefully they will pay dividends for the Angels as they have had to work with a patchwork starting rotation for most of the season.

However, not everything is fine and dandy. Since Ramirez opted for steam-cell therapy, it is unclear if he’ll be able to pitch next season. While the therapy did work for Richards, it didn’t really work for Heaney, and he later required surgery on his elbow extending his recovery time. Hopefully, he’ll be able to get right back on track and have another stellar and surprising year.

Ramirez finishes his 2017 campaign going 11-10 as a starter, posting a 4.15 ERA in 147.1 innings pitched. He recorded 105 strikeouts and walked 49 batters.

Next: Garret Richards returns to form

Shout out to Angels’ GM Billy Eppler for once again finding a rotational piece where no one else would look.