PHILADELPHIA _ Aaron Nola's season, as expected, is over.
The 23-year-old Phillies pitcher, who became one of the faces of the team's rebuilding, was diagnosed with "low-grade" sprains and strains of ligaments and tendons in his right elbow. He was injected with platelet-rich plasma, and he will rest for four more weeks. He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Wednesday.
For now, the Phillies do not expect Nola to need surgery. They had him visit James Andrews, the renowned orthopedist, and surgery was never a topic of discussion.
But if the conservative treatment does not work, surgery could happen. There is damage to Nola's elbow in the ulnar collateral ligament, the part commonly associated with Tommy John surgery. Nola also injured his flexor tendon.
"I can't know exactly what it's going to be like in a few weeks or a few months, or spring training from here," Nola said. "But I expect it to be good to go and all healthy. My arm should be healthy by then."
Nola has a 4.29 ERA in 33 career starts. He was the seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft. For the first part of his career, he was a portrait of stability.
Now, the Phillies will enter the offseason with Nola added to the large list of questions about the future.
