Jim Henderson, Tyler Thornburg Likely Not Coming Back This Season

May 1, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Jim Henderson (29) throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. The Reds won 8-3. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Brewers assistant General Manager Gord Ash made it known on Friday that Jim Henderson and Tyler Thornburg were likely done for the season.

Neither player has had a significant setback in their rehabilitation from arm injuries, but neither of them is progressing either.

Henderson was slated to be the Brewers closer before the season started but a lack of velocity saw Francisco Rodriguez take over that role to open the season.

Henderson was with the Brewers for about a month, making 14 appearances covering 11 1/3 innings.  He allowed 10 runs, nine earned, on 14 hits and four walks. He still managed to strike out 17 hitters in that span.

He went on the disabled list on May 2 with shoulder soreness and has been on two minor league rehab assignments. He had successful rehab assignments, but according to Ash that was because he knew how to pitch, not because his shoulder was progressing.

Now team physician William Raasch has recommended that Henderson have surgery to clean up damage to the rotator cuff and labrum in his shoulder.

Thornburg appeared in 27 games for Milwaukee, throwing 29 2/3 innings. He allowed 14 runs on 24 hits and 21 walks. He had 28 strike outs in that span.

Thornburg had a dominant April, but his numbers fell off sharply in May and he went on the disabled list in June with the dreaded “sore elbow.” He has yet to make a rehab assignment.

The Brewers noted that Thornburg first went on the disabled list with irritation in the wrist-flexor of his elbow, but the club is now monitoring his ulnar collateral ligament.

The UCL is not torn, which would necessitate Tommy John surgery, but Ash said there is weakness in it.

Thornburg had a platelet-rich plasma injection into the elbow to assist with the healing but he won’t resume any rehab activities until the end of September or early October.

Anybody looking to the pair to come back and bolster the bullpen is out of luck.