Of course with injuries, there is no set timetable. The Padres have watched pitchers like Josh Johnson, Brandon Morrow, and Cory Luebke struggle to return from Tommy John Surgery and Rea is hoping to avoid the surgery with a different medical method.
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He had a platelet-rich plasma injection and is hoping to rehab that way with hopes of pitching again sooner than later in 2017. He consulted with Dr. James Andrews before making the decision.