Ranger's Mendez to skip first half of season over elbow injury

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yohander Mendez will miss the first half of the season because of an elbow injury, team officials announced Monday. The left-hander will not need Tommy John surgery.

The 24-year-old left his spring training start Sunday in the third inning after losing velocity and feeling tightness in his pitching elbow. An MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain of the ulnar collateral ligament. The plan is to give him six weeks of rest, followed by about another six weeks of a throwing program.

Mendez pitched in eight games (five starts) for the Rangers last season, producing a 2-2 record and a 5.53 ERA in 27 2/3 innings. He has appeared in parts of the past three seasons for Texas, going 2-3 with a 6.28 ERA in 17 games (five starts). Mendez figured to be a depth option for the 2019 rotation.