Despite fears that Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner could have a ligament tear in his right elbow and miss the rest of the season, a second opinion concurs with the first: he has no additional structural damage and should play again in 2012.
Daniel Barbarisi of the Wall Street Journal tweets that Gardner's diagnosis remains a strain with joint inflammation. Barbarisi also reports that Gardner received platelet-rich-plasma therapy and will be in an elbow brace for the next three or four weeks.
While there's no clear timetable for a return to the active roster and a minor-league rehab assignment seems highly likely, Gardner figures to be able to play most of the second half, barring a setback.
Gardner, who boasts a .424 OBP on the season, hasn't played since April 17. Besides being a useful left-handed stick, Gardner is one of the top defensive outfielders in the game today. Gardner's eventual return will also mean that Raul Ibanez will no longer be forced to wear a glove, which would be a good thing for both the Yankees' hopes and a general sense of aesthetics.
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