Two days after saying closer Greg Holland would miss a few games because of tightness in his elbow, the Royals announced Thursday that the right-hander is done for the season.
Manager Ned Yost disclosed Holland's injury as a UCL tear, according to The Kansas City Star.
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Greg Holland has a "significant" tear in his UCL, Ned Yost says. So Tommy John surgery is the most likely option.
— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) September 24, 2015
Kansas City shouldn't lose anything beyond bullpen depth with the dominant Wade Davis stepping in as the ninth-inning guy, but the apparently abrupt deterioration in Holland's condition was a surprise.
Manager Ned Yost told reporters Wednesday (via the Kansas City Star) that Holland would have "no defined role" when he was ready to pitch and indicated the two-time All-Star likely wouldn't be used in high-leverage situations. But he never suggested Holland wouldn't see the mound for the Royals again this season.
The 29-year-old hasn't been nearly as effective this season as he was the last two years, both of which saw him finish with sub-1.50 ERAs, and has slipped dramatically since midseason. Holland was 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in 28 appearances before the All-Star break and is 0-2 with a 5.50 ERA in 20 outings since.