Hopes for the Offseason: Keith Butler

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Note: Hopes for the Offseason will be a series of posts regarding my hopes for players on the current St. Louis Cardinals’ 40-man roster.

Today’s topic for Hopes for the Offseason needed a great deal of research. Keith Butler hasn’t pitched since April, and in those efforts, he did not do very well. Like, at all.

See?

So, what happened? Butler, who was on the Opening Day bullpen, went on the Triple-A disabled list on May 14 due to elbow discomfort. He then had his elbow examined by the Cardinals’ medical staff.

More from St Louis Cardinals News

According to MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch, Butler had a tear to the ulnar collateral ligament and had season-ending Tommy John surgery on his elbow. The recovery time for Tommy John Surgery is typically 12-18 months.

So, realistically, if Butler even pitches in 2015 it will be in the minors. The St. Louis Cardinals probably would see him until 2016.

So maybe will see him again in 2017.

My hopes for Butler’s offseason?

* Get well! Follow the doctor’s instructions on getting better. Relax. Don’t throw until the doctor says it is ok. As fans saw this season, bullpen help is important and we need a good staff there. Don’t push it!