Elbow Trouble Keeps Nathan Kirby Out of Action

The Brewers waited patiently for lefthander Nathan Kirby to get his pro career going.

They will still be waiting well into the second half of this season.

The Brewers hoped the 23-year-old Kirby would be ready to pitch early in 2017 after he missed last season following Tommy John surgery he had in September 2015.

However, Kirby’s elbow began bothering him again while he pitched in extended spring training.

An exam revealed Kirby had ulnar neuritis, so he had surgery to reposition the ulnar nerve. That procedure sometimes is done during Tommy John surgery, but it was not considered necessary until he began experiencing discomfort this spring.

The latest setback was expected to sideline Kirby for another two or three months. This is the way things have gone since the Brewers selected him out of Virginia in the supplemental first round in 2015.

Kirby missed much of his junior season with the Cavaliers with a strained latissimus dorsi muscle behind his pitching shoulder. He returned in time to record the final outs in relief as Virginia won the 2015 College World Series against Vanderbilt.

But the Brewers were concerned enough about Kirby’s arm after a pre-draft physical to significantly lower his bonus offer.

He made it through just 12.2 innings at low Class A Wisconsin in 2015 before being shut down.

The Brewers still believe Kirby has a bright future. When healthy, he throws a fastball in the low to mid-90s with good movement. His slider is a plus pitch .

“We thought he was close to being ready, then he began feeling something in his elbow again,” farm director Tom Flanagan said. “He’s had some tough luck, no question.

“He’s still young, just 23, so at least he’s getting all of this taken care of now.”

— Tom Haudricourt covers the Brewers for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel