Just when it appeared that Dodgers right-hander Chad Billingsley was on the cusp of returning to the Dodgers rotation after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2013, the 29-year-old Defiance, OH native received some devastating news last Thursday – he has a tear in the flexor tendon in his right elbow that will require yet another surgery to repair.

Billingsley told reporters that he suffered the injury during his June 8 rehab start with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

“It was during my rehab game, I think the second inning,” said Billingsley. “I felt like my arm was fatigued, not really hurting and I didn’t really think anything of it. I woke up the next morning and felt good and went to play catch Monday in Arizona [which] went well. Then Tuesday long toss felt fine, felt good enough to go out and throw a ‘pen. And the same thing happened halfway through my bullpen, it just didn’t feel right, and I came back here and had an MRI.”

It was during the second inning of Chad’s June 8 rehab game with the Quakes that he tore the flexor tendon in his left elbow. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Viably disappointed, Billingsley was asked how he is coping with this latest setback.

“Oh, just flustered,” said Billingsley. “I mean it’s part of what we do, have to weigh it. I didn’t want to spend two years of my life rehabbing but you gotta do it. It’s not as long of a process as Tommy John [surgery], it’s only like six months, so that’s good.”

Billingsley said that the surgery will take place next week and that he will be able to begin throwing in three months. He added that he should be fully recovered and ready to pitch next season. The question, of course, is where.

Billingsley’s current three-year/$35 million contract expires at the end of this season with the Dodgers holding a $14 million club option on the right-hander for 2015 (or a $3 million buyout). Exercising that option would be a huge gamble on a pitcher who has spent more than half of his three-year contract on the disabled list.

“I’m not really worried about that, I’m worried about getting healthy,” said Billingsley.

In his eight major league seasons, all with the Dodgers, Billingsley has a respectable 81-61 record with an equally respectable 3.65 ERA. He has 1,037 career strikeouts compared to 491 walks for a career K/BB ratio of  2.11. If there is one knock on Billingsley it would be that he has pitched over 200 innings only once in his eight-year MLB career – 200.2 innings in 2008. Additionally, Billingsley rarely goes longer than 6 innings and, in fact, has thrown only four complete games in 190 career starts. He was, however, selected to the All-Star Game in 2009.