Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez’ right elbow underwent an MRI late yesterday afternoon in Tampa to determine why the hinge wasn’t feeling right and why the Yankee pitcher’s velocity dropped to the low 80s in his last start.
According to Yankee brass, results of the MRI won’t be available until later today.
While Hernandez and the Yankees were concerned enough about the elbow to put him on the DL Tuesday, the team’s best pitcher has been concerned about a balky back since spring training to the point where he visited a South Florida specialist June 19, two days before having his elbow examined by noted orthopedic surgeon James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.
“He came to Fort Lauderdale the day after Father’s Day and was examined by Dr. Gieske, the same doctor who operated on Jose Canseco’s back,” El Duque’s agent, Joe Cubas, told The Post yesterday.
The trip to South Florida came one day after the White Sox rocked Hernandez for nine runs and six hits in two-thirds of an inning on June 18. Afterward, Hernandez complained of an elbow problem.
“Dr. Gieske said it was spasms,” he said.
Hernandez, who missed a few days early in spring training with a back problem, was seen by a back specialist after Andrews took a look at the elbow and read a prior MRI. Andrews diagnosed the elbow trouble as a sprain and El Duque missed a start but wasn’t put on the DL.
After turning in two solid outings, Hernandez complained of elbow problems one day after the Marlins spanked him for eight runs and nine hits on July 13.
“Initially, there was pain in the back of the elbow the day after he pitched against the White Sox,” said Cubas, who was confident that yesterday’s MRI wasn’t going to reveal serious structural damage to his clients’ valuable elbow.
Despite an 8-7 record and 4.57 ERA, El Duque is considered the ace of the Yankee staff. “That’s when I talked to [Yankee GM] Brian Cashman and he agreed it would be wise to do some tests.”
According to Cubas, El Duque wanted to pitch through the latest physical problems, which included discomfort in his lower back and legs. However, Cubas got it across to Hernandez that the bigger picture was more important than the short-range one.
“We hope that the two weeks, actually 10 days, is all that is required,” said Yankee manager Joe Torre. “But until whatever additional tests he is going to have and that comes back negative, you don’t know for sure.”
