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Joe Nathan leaves rehab game after experiencing intense pain in his arm

Chris Cwik
·Staff writer

Detroit Tigers closer Joe Nathan may not be close to returning to the majors any time soon. The 40-year-old left Wednesday's rehab game after throwing just 10 pitches.

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Nathan was attempting to come back from an elbow injury, and was slated to throw 25 pitches during the game. On the 10th pitch, it was clear something was wrong.

Ugh ... that video is hard to watch. You can tell there's something wrong with Nathan almost immediately after he releases the pitch. The worst part is Nathan's first warm up pitch following the injury. It's clear he was in a ton of pain.

Nathan admitted as much to mlive.com's James Schmehl after the game.

"It feels like I broke my arm," Nathan said. "I never have broken my arm, but I would assume this is what it feels like."

Nathan wasn't willing to speculate about the severity of the injury after the Mud Hens' game, but acknowledged that he felt a sharp pain in his right forearm after throwing a strike to Louisville Bats outfielder Bryson Smith in the seventh inning.

Nathan had looked strong prior to leaving the game. While he only hit 88 mph with his fastball, he threw seven of his 10 pitches for strikes. Nathan also struck out one of the two hitters he faced with an 85 mph slider.

It was believed Nathan would be activated shortly after this appearance. Now, it's unclear when he'll pitch again.

"Until we go find out what's going on, I don't want to speculate on what it is," Nathan said. "But obviously, it was enough for me to take myself out of a game. And anytime somebody walks off the mound is never a good thing."

Nathan will return to Detroit tonight and await further instruction from the Tigers. He's expected to undergo testing, including an MRI exam.

Given his age, a significant arm injury at this point in his career could signal the end for Nathan. While his recent struggles have made him a punchline among some fans, Nathan was one of the best relievers in the game for an extended period of time.

Over 917 career innings, he's posted a 2.89 ERA, with a 3.37 FIP. From 2003 to 2013, Nathan posted the second-highest WAR among relief pitchers, behind Mariano Rivera. He compiled 340 saves with a 2.24 ERA over that period while striking out 30 percent of opposing hitters.

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Nathan isn't that player anymore, and it seems unlikely the Tigers will pick up his $10 million option for 2016 even if this injury turns out to be nothing serious. If Nathan has to miss significant time, there's a good chance he's pitched his last game in the majors.

For now, Nathan's season, and possibly his career, will be determined by the results of his upcoming MRI.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik