Mayza's fears realized: Reliever to undergo TJ

TORONTO -- Tim Mayza and the Blue Jays got the news that they’d feared on Saturday, as the 27-year-old left-hander has been diagnosed with a torn UCL and will undergo Tommy John surgery.

Mayza was removed from Friday’s game against the Yankees and it was clear at the time that the injury was serious. After releasing a pitch that sailed well behind Didi Gregorius at the plate, Mayza immediately dropped to his knees in pain. He was clearly emotional on the mound while surrounded by teammates and staff.

Speaking at Rogers Centre on Sunday, Mayza was coming to grips with the long road ahead. He’s talked with teammate Ryan Borucki, who has undergone Tommy John surgery, along with veterans Clay Buchholz and Matt Shoemaker, who have both experienced significant injuries in their careers.

“It’s unfortunate,” Mayza said, “but it’s fortunate to have guys who have gone through the surgery in the clubhouse. Talking to them, I understand that the process in the rehab is going to be long and it’s going to be tedious. I’m confident that I’m going to be able to get through it successfully and come back strong.

Inside the clubhouse, the message of support for Mayza was clear.

“Everybody loves Timmy,” said manager Charlie Montoyo on Saturday. “He’s never had an MRI for anything. He pitches, he doesn’t complain. He pitches every day, and he’s got a smile every day.”

Montoyo added that the entire team filed through the training room after Friday’s game to see Mayza, a sign of respect for a player whom many both inside and outside the clubhouse hold in high regard. Even fellow reliever Wilmer Font, who pitched two innings following Mayza's exit in Friday night’s 12-inning win, left the dugout between his innings to visit his teammate.

“This is a very close-knit team,” Mayza said. “Very, very close. To get that support from them meant a lot, it really did. That’s the kind of team you have, and the kind of teammates you look for.”

The Blue Jays are still in the process of determining the timetable for Mayza’s surgery and where it will take place, but the typical recovery time for Tommy John means that Mayza is likely to miss the entire 2020 season and set his sights on returning to the Majors in 2021.

In a season during which the Blue Jays’ rotation has been stretched thin and the team began using an opener, the bullpen has carried a heavy load, with Mayza at the forefront.

Mayza made 68 appearances for the Blue Jays this season. The next closest on the team is Derek Law, with 51. Mayza posted a 4.91 ERA with 55 strikeouts over 51 1/3 innings.