Tigers release Joel Hanrahan as second Tommy John surgery looms

Joel Hanrahan spent the last 21 months trying to claw his way back to the major leagues following Tommy John surgery that halted his career during the nascent stages of the 2013 campaign.

The 33-year-old reliever learned this week, however, that his efforts were for naught.

Hanrahan left spring training with the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday to meet with Dr. Keith Meister, a Texas-based orthopedist, who determined the two-time All-Star would require a second Tommy John surgery, according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. The veteran was compelled to see Meister after lingering soreness in his surgically-repaired right elbow hampered his throwing in camp for more than a week.

Despite failing to appear in a game last season after inking a one-year deal with the Tigers in May, Hanrahan received a minor-league deal with Detroit in November that included an invitation to spring training. Hanrahan is scheduled to undergo surgery March 18 and was released by the Tigers on Tuesday.

Hanrahan's future in baseball remains decidedly uncertain following this week's diagnosis, as his absence from the major leagues will now extend at least one more full season. His last stint in the big leagues came in May 2013, when he stumbled to a 9.82 ERA over nine appearances for the Boston Red Sox before undergoing surgery.