Texas Rangers bullpen could be without Keone Kela until July

Right-hander Keone Kela could be out until the All-Star break if he undergoes surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.

Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said that Kela is leaning toward the operation to correct an impingement that started bothering him in September and again the past few weeks.

The Rangers and Kela opted against off-season surgery because he responded favorably to a cortisone injection late last season and pitched well. Kela didn’t encounter any issues as he worked out in the off-season or during spring training.

But the issue resurfaced shortly after Opening Day and was at its worst Tuesday as he allowed back-to-back homers in the seventh inning of a 7-4 win over Houston.

“He’s getting a couple other tests today to rule out anything else,” Daniels said. “The options would be rest at this point or to get the bone spur cleaned out, which I think is where he’s leaning. That would probably be close to 12 weeks.”

Daniels stressed that an MRI exam showed no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament and there has been no mention of Tommy John surgery.

Manager Jeff Banister said that right-hander Tony Barnette will get the first opportunity to fill Kela’s role, which usually means pitching the seventh inning with a lead. Barnette allowed two runs April 5 in his major league debut, but has worked 5  1/3 scoreless innings since.

Phil Klein, recalled from Triple A Round Rock to replace Kela, will take Barnette’s innings, and Alex Claudio would see more use as a situational lefty than just an innings eater.

Nick Martinez will remain in the long role, and the struggling Tom Wilhelmsen will remain an option in the sixth and seventh innings.

Prince on Prince

Designated hitter Prince Fielder had a great uncle named Prince.

His parents were fans of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince, who died Thursday at age 57.

Both the great uncle and the musician were the reason for Fielder’s name.

“But I think it was more so Prince, because I’ve never seen a picture of my great uncle,” Fielder said.

Fielder said that he is a fan of Prince’s music and was sorry to hear of his passing. Catcher Bryan Holaday on Thursday used Little Red Corvette as his walk-up music.

“Who doesn’t like Prince?” Fielder said.

Perez goes again

The Rangers were scheduled to hop on a plane late Thursday and fly to Chicago for a three-game weekend series against the White Sox, who are scheduled to pitch left-handers in the first two games.

The good news for the Rangers is that neither is Chris Sale, the early front-runner for the American League Cy Young.

“We just play who’s lined up in front of us,” Banister said.

Martin Perez will make his fourth start Friday in the opener and will be seeking his first win. He is the second pitcher in club history to open a season with three quality starts but not get a victory.

The key to his success (3.44 ERA) has been an ability to avoid the big inning, often by inducing a timely double play.

“The growth of his ability to control innings, he’s done that well,” Banister said. “He’s able to make a pitch or understand the best pitch in every game situation.”

This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Texas Rangers bullpen could be without Keone Kela until July."