Yesterday after the first MRI, the severity of the injury wasn't clear. This is a statement made before the second opinion today.
"The MRI does show some involvement in the ligament. We don't know the extent yet," Wren said. "He's going to have continued tests. He's also going to probably have a second opinion. So for us to put a complete diagnosis on it at this time would be premature. We're going to let this process kind of work its way through over the next few days."
The second opinion showed that he did indeed damage a ligament in one of his elbows, so is certain that he will undergo Tommy John surgery. It will be the second time Medlen has undergone that surgery.
"I feel like I carry the flag for the underdogs and the people that believe in themselves and no one else, said Medlen.
After it was determined that they've lost Medlen for a few months due to the long healing period for the surgery, they then started talking to several pitches across the league.
"In this job, there's a reason why — I know you guys get tired of hearing it, the fans get tired of hearing it — that we say we like our team if we can stay healthy," Wren said. "It's sometimes a very fragile position that you sit in when you have a good team. A lot of times you can’t weather a lot of injuries, and when you see a guy like Kris Medlen, who's been such a good performer for us...when you see him walk off the mound, you get a sick feeling in your stomach. Not unlike when you see Tim Hudson get stepped on at first base (in 2013), on a routine play. Things happen. You can’t control them. Nothing you can do about them, it's just the nature of the business that we're in. But that (Medlen injury) is a tough one to watch."
The pitcher that the Braves talked to the most and eventually signed was for Kansas City Royals pitcher Ervin Santana.
"It was a lot of waiting, but thank God I already have a team to play. Can't wait to play," Santana said to ESPNdeportes.com. It was hard. I had a lot of patience, but my family and God are always right next to me, and that helped me."
The Braves have not locked up Santana for the long considering the deal is over one year, but it worth $14.1 million.
"The MRI does show some involvement in the ligament. We don't know the extent yet," Wren said. "He's going to have continued tests. He's also going to probably have a second opinion. So for us to put a complete diagnosis on it at this time would be premature. We're going to let this process kind of work its way through over the next few days."
The second opinion showed that he did indeed damage a ligament in one of his elbows, so is certain that he will undergo Tommy John surgery. It will be the second time Medlen has undergone that surgery.
"I feel like I carry the flag for the underdogs and the people that believe in themselves and no one else, said Medlen.
After it was determined that they've lost Medlen for a few months due to the long healing period for the surgery, they then started talking to several pitches across the league.
"In this job, there's a reason why — I know you guys get tired of hearing it, the fans get tired of hearing it — that we say we like our team if we can stay healthy," Wren said. "It's sometimes a very fragile position that you sit in when you have a good team. A lot of times you can’t weather a lot of injuries, and when you see a guy like Kris Medlen, who's been such a good performer for us...when you see him walk off the mound, you get a sick feeling in your stomach. Not unlike when you see Tim Hudson get stepped on at first base (in 2013), on a routine play. Things happen. You can’t control them. Nothing you can do about them, it's just the nature of the business that we're in. But that (Medlen injury) is a tough one to watch."
The pitcher that the Braves talked to the most and eventually signed was for Kansas City Royals pitcher Ervin Santana.
"It was a lot of waiting, but thank God I already have a team to play. Can't wait to play," Santana said to ESPNdeportes.com. It was hard. I had a lot of patience, but my family and God are always right next to me, and that helped me."
The Braves have not locked up Santana for the long considering the deal is over one year, but it worth $14.1 million.