Hawaii pitcher Andrew Jones will likely miss the rest of the season with an elbow injury, Rainbows coach Mike Trapasso said Wednesday.
An MRI on Tuesday revealed a partial tear of a ligament in Jones’ left elbow.
"It’s not good news," Trapasso said. "They’re going to look at trying to rehab for about three weeks and if the rehab doesn’t show any improvement over those three weeks then he’ll probably end up having surgery."
Even if Jones’ rehab goes well, Trapasso estimates it’d be roughly eight weeks before he’d be ready to pitch.
According to that timeline, Jones wouldn’t be available until halfway through the Big West schedule.
"For all intents and purposes, he’s pau for the season," Trapasso said. "That’s a big blow."
Jones, a junior college transfer from Grayson (Ariz.) County College, felt discomfort in his elbow coming back from Christmas break and was shut down for two weeks.
Had that not happened, Jones likely would have been in the starting rotation to open the season.
The 5-foot-11 left-hander pitched out of the bullpen in Monday’s 4-2 loss to Oregon and retired the first eight batters he faced.
Jones struck out four before giving up his first hit and was immediately taken out of the game.
He’s the second lefty to be injured for UH.
Two-year lefty starter Jarrett Arakawa underwent shoulder surgery last week and is hopeful to be back for the start of the 2014 season.
"Now we’re going to see how our pitching staff reacts to adversity," Trapasso said. "We’re going to be coming into three straight five-game series after this weekend and depth is really going to be an issue."
Sophomore Scott Squier (0-1, 3.86 ERA) and seniors Connor Little (0-1, 5.68) and Corey MacDonald (0-1, 6.35) will start the first three games of this week’s series against No. 13 Rice (2-2), beginning Friday.
Hawaii (0-4) got an encouraging outing from junior Matt Cooper, who worked 4 1/3 shutout innings against the fifth-ranked Ducks.
Cooper allowed four hits and struck out three without walking a batter.
"It took an inning to settle in, but once I did it felt really good," said Cooper, who transferred from Bellevue (Wash.) Community College. "It’s a great pitchers’ park, that’s for sure. I’ve never pitched in a better pitching park."
