2011 In Review: Carlos Carrasco

Age 24 Season

2011 Salary: $415,800

Service Time (est): 1.034

2012 Contract Status: Pre-Arbitration

Options Remaining: One

How Acquired: Trade (Philadelphia, 7-29-2009)

If Opening Day was tomorrow: On 60-Day Disabled List and out for the season.

Repertroire: (via Fangraphs)

*Carlos throws both a two-seam and a four-seam fastball, but both pitches are included under the same category.

2011 Transactions/Injuries:

4-28-2011: Placed on 15-Day Disabled List (right elbow)

5-11-2011: Reinstated from 15-Day Disabled List

8-1-2011: Suspended by MLB for six games

8-8-2011: Placed on 15-Day Disabled List (right elbow)

9-6-2011: Transferred to 60-Day Disabled List (right elbow surgery)

This looked like the season in which Carrasco would break out. He closed the 2010 season with the Indians after spending most of the year in Columbus, and held his own in seven starts in September/October, and that finish earned him a spot in this year's rotation. He was the headliner of the Cliff Lee deal, and had an impressive arsenal of pitches, though at times he would rely more on his off-speed pitches than his fastball. He landed on the Disabled List in late April with a strained right elbow, but came back quickly, and pitch his best ball in May and June. After a clunker against the Rangers on June 2, he ran off a string of five Quality Starts in a row, highlighted by two straight starts in which the Indians won 1-0 (these were the Indians' only two victories in a span of twelve games).

Once the calendar hit July, though, he fell off dramatically, posting a 9.13 ERA during the month, and having especially bad start against the Royals on July 29th. He not only gave up seven earned runs in 3.1 innings, but would earn a suspension after throwing at Billy Butler's head. Unfortunately, he still has yet to serve the suspension, as after he dropped his appeal, he went on the Disabled List again with inflammation in his right elbow. As late as August, the Indians were hoping that he'd pitch before the season was over. But in early September, rumors of Tommy John surgery were surfacing, and on September 6th, he was scheduled for the reconstructive surgery. The ligament damage was not of a sudden nature (in other words, he didn't injure the ligament based on one throw) but appeared to be based on an injury Carrasco suffered as a teenager:

In conversations with Carrasco, 24, Soloff said it was learned that the pitcher suffered an elbow injury when he was around 14 years old. At the time, Carrasco sat out for roughly six weeks before throwing again. This season, the pitcher complained of discomfort on the outside of his elbow, rather than on the inside, where the injured ligament is located.

Soloff said one option was to scope the elbow -- removing loose bodies -- but that route would only provide temporary relief for the pitcher. After seeking multiple opinions, the Indians determined that pursuing Tommy John surgery was the best option for a pitcher considered to be a key part of the rotation's long-term plans.

Carrasco had the surgery on September 14th, and although he may start throwing in games again a year from now, it's more likely that he won't pitch for the Indians until the 2013 season.

2011 Pitching Log