like a kick to the balls...

[Providence A's]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...s.html#herrera

• Athletics outfield prospect Javier Herrera will likely miss the entire season after being diagnosed with an injured elbow ligament that will require Tommy John surgery. Herrera, the organization's No. 2 prospect, was sent to the minors after a stint in big league camp. After reporting to the minor league camp, he reported pain in his elbow. Dr. Doug Freedberg in Phoenix confirmed the injury and told Herrera that he would need reconstructive elbow surgery. The 20-year-old Venezuelan hit .275/.374/.444 last season at low Class A Kane County with a 5-for-12 cameo at Triple-A Sacramento.

ugh...looks like Kotsay's future replacement will be a year behind now...thanksfully, he's only 20.

[Providence A's]

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NAS...=.jsp&c_id=oak

PHOENIX -- Oakland A's outfield prospect Javier Herrera will miss the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery within the next week. The 20-year-old from Caracas, Venezuela, reported pain in his right arm after a recent game at the A's Minor League complex.

"We took him in, had him examined and we got the diagnosis," A's director of player development Keith Lieppman said Thursday. "It's hard to tell whether it happened in one throw or if it was a combination of other things."

According to A's assistant general manager David Forst, Herrera will visit with specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum this weekend in Los Angeles for an examination.

"It's unfortunate," Forst said of the injury.

just more confirmation