The Los Angels Dodgers placed relief pitcher Todd Coffey on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday with right elbow soreness, but the injury sounds more serious than that. The Dodgers recalled pitcher Shawn Tolleson from Triple A Albuquerque, one day after he had been optioned, to take Coffey's place on the active roster.
Coffey pitched in Monday's game against the Cincinnati Reds, and after giving up a triple to Todd Frazier was visited on the mound by team trainer Sue Falsone and manager Don Mattingly. Coffey told them he was fine and stayed in the game, and struck out his next two hitters before allowing an RBI single.
Mattingly on Tuesday called the injury "fairly significant" but would not elaborate, instead deferring to the team medical staff, which has not yet been made available for comment.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that Coffey would likely need Tommy John surgery, but that remains to be seen.
Coffey, 31, has a 4.66 ERA in 23 appearances for the Dodgers this season, with nine walks and 18 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings. He missed 13 games in April while on the disabled list with right knee inflammation. Coffey signed a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $1.3 million, including a $2.5 million club option for 2013 or a $300,000 buyout.
Coffey missed the entire 2000 season while a minor leaguer in the Reds system after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 1999.
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