The Kansas City Royals have shut closer Greg Holland down for the remainder of the season and the playoffs with what appears to be a significant injury to his throwing elbow. 

Andy  McCullough of The Kansas City Star is reporting that the injury is likely a UCL tear and will require Tommy John Surgery: 

Yost thinks Holland likely tore ligament last August. So Holland pitched all October & saved 32 games in '14 w/ a damaged arm. Impressive.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) September 24, 2015

The fact that Holland might have tore the ligament last August is crazy. It means he pitched through the postseason run and a vast majority of the 2015 season with a major injury to his pitching shoulder. This season alone, the All-Star has put up 32 saves with a substandard (by his standards) 3.83 ERA. 

Depending on when Holland undergoes surgery, there's a decent chance he will miss the entire 2016 season. That's an unfortunately turn of events for one of the most-dominating bullpen arms in the Majors. It will also impact the Royals' World Series hopes this October. 

With Holland sidelined, Wade Davis will continue to close for the team. Remember, Davis had recently replaced Holland as the team's closer.