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Eovaldi gets clean bill of health from surgeon

Elsa / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Nathan Eovaldi is primed to secure a lucrative contract this offseason and teams interested in acquiring the free agent shouldn't be worried about his health.

Eovaldi, who has undergone Tommy John surgery twice, received a clean bill of health from Dr. Christopher Ahmad, the team physician who operated on his elbow and forearm in 2016, according to Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston.

"To me, he’s over Tommy John surgery and he’s over revision Tommy John surgery," Ahmad explained. "And I would consider him in the same category of somebody who has a healthy arm, and whatever worry I have about that player, I have the same or less for Nate."

During a routine visit Tuesday, which included an MRI and a standard physical exam, Ahmad had nothing but good things to say about Eovaldi's surgically repaired right elbow.

"His elbow, from his description, he had no symptoms whatsoever throughout 2018 once the season started," the doctor said. "His elbow felt great. Obviously, his velocity was there, so his performance and his ability to get guys out and his number of innings pitched was amazing. But from his description, he had no complaints at all. He felt great."

During his first season back in the majors since 2016 surgery, Eovaldi went 6-7 with a 3.81 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 111 innings split between the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox.

It was during Boston's World Series run, however, that the 28-year-old really shined. He secured a 1.61 ERA in 22 1/3 innings while showcasing a newly developed cut fastball and a four-seamer that touched triple digits.

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