Zach Eflin has been dealing with knee issues since he was 11 years old, Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said Friday afternoon.
The Phillies knew that when they acquired him in the Jimmy Rollins trade in December 2014.
The knee issues sprouted up in Eflin’s first season at the major-league level and have officially ended his season just 11 starts after he made his debut on June 14 in Toronto.
For the second time this week, the Phillies transferred a young pitcher they hope is part of their future to the 60-day disabled list. Wednesday, it was Aaron Nola (see story). Friday, it was Eflin.
Eflin, 22, who saw the well-known Dr. James Andrews earlier in the week, had successful surgery to repair the patella tendon in his right knee. The surgery was performed Friday in Philadelphia by Dr. Steven Cohen.
“The timeline is that he’ll be in a brace and otherwise immobilized for roughly the next six weeks,” Klentak said. "That will also give his foot a chance to recover from the stress fracture he had. There is no procedure that needs to be done on his foot. But him being off the foot will help that to recover. And then, once he’s fully healed and recovered from that right knee surgery we’ll start talking about what we’ll do with the left one.”
It appears a second surgery will follow.
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“More than likely it seems like that’s where it’s headed,” Klentak said. “We’ll have to see how he responds with the right knee. If everything goes according to plan, then, yeah, we’d likely perform a procedure with the left one in roughly six weeks time.”
Like with Nola, the plan is for Eflin to be available and fully healed come spring training.
Klentak said despite the organization's knowing about Eflin’s issues, it wasn’t an expectation that surgery would always be in his future.
“You know this is an issue he’s been fighting since he was a kid,” Klentak said. “I think he told me since he was 11 years old, he first started battling knee problems. The hope here is that it’s going to alleviate the problem. And that he’s not going to have to deal with it. And in just talking candidly with Zach last night, while not excited to undergo the knife today, he was pretty excited about the possibility of coming to spring training next year pain-free for the first time in his life.”
Eflin, after being battered for eight earned runs in 2⅔ innings in his debut, had a large stretch of success for the Phillies before things went south July 27 in Miami. In his last three starts, perhaps because of injury, he failed to pitch more than five innings and gave up at least six runs.
Just one start prior to that stretch, Eflin pitched his first career shutout July 22 in Pittsburgh. He allowed three hits and struck out six that night without issuing a walk.
He ends his rookie year 3-5 with a 5.54 ERA in 63⅓ innings. He struck out 31 and walked 17. Prior to joining the Phillies, Eflin went 5-2 with a 2.90 ERA in 68⅓ innings at Triple A Lehigh Valley. There, he struck out 55 and walked 11.
“Absent the one tough start in Toronto, I thought he was pretty damn good,” Klentak said.
Hernandez sits again
For the second straight game, second baseman Cesar Hernandez (foul ball off the foot) is out of the lineup.
Klentak said Hernandez is day to day.
“We did give him an X-ray on the foot just to rule out any fractures and there is no fractures,” Klentak said. “He should be available if we need him, we’re just trying to give him some extra rest.”
Manager Pete Mackanin said Hernandez — who is hitting .329 since July 1 — would be available off the bench Friday if needed.
Burriss back up
The Phillies recalled Emmanuel Burriss prior to Friday’s game and optioned Taylor Featherston back to Lehigh Valley. Burriss is in Friday’s lineup, batting eighth and playing second base.
Eflin’s transfer to the 60-day disabled list freed up a spot on the 40-man roster for Burriss, who is hitting .121 in 33 at-bats for the Phillies this year.
