Rockies pitcher Tyler Kinley 'probably' done for year with elbow injury

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Tyler Kinley will undergo surgery to repair a flexor tear in his pitching elbow and will likely miss the remainder of the 2022 season, manager Bud Black told reporters Wednesday. It's also possible Kinley will need Tommy John surgery on his elbow.

"That answer will probably be clearer when he has the procedure, but I'm thinking this is probably going to cost him this season," Black said, via ESPN.

"It's frustrating for Tyler first and foremost because we was throwing the ball so well and he was in such a good place fundamentally with his mechanics and mentally with his confidence. His place on the team was trending upward, his career path. And a lot of that had to do with what he did this winter with some subtle changes to his delivery. So to have this happen, it's such a bummer, man."

Kinley, 31, landed on the 15-day injured list on Sunday retroactive to Thursday, June 9 due to what the team called "a right elbow ulnar nerve injury." An MRI later revealed the extent of the damage.

In 25 appearances and 24.0 innings pitched this season, Kinley allowed just two earned runs for a stellar 0.75 ERA. Last season, Kinley appeared in 70 games and finished the year with a 4.73 ERA.

Kinley served as the set-up man for Rockies closer Daniel Bard. The role will likely be taken over by veteran reliever Alex Colomé in Kinley's absence.