Jharel Cotton was sent back to the Bay Area for an MRI on a sore elbow and we’re all left to assume the worst. We know arm injuries frequently occur during Spring Training, we know elbow injuries often portend to Tommy John surgery, and we know that as A’s fans we can’t have nice things.
The jury is out on Cotton’s status. He’s had elbow issues before that turned out to not be serious, so while my instinct is to mentally prepare for the brutal possibility of never seeing Cotton’s beautiful changeup again, there’s a chance he could be fine.