Anna Chapman has become the face of the story.

As he rolled in agony on the Target field turf Monday night, Tigers right-hander Joel Zumaya thought he had just thrown his last pitch.

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"I thought my career was done," Zumaya said.

Zumaya feared he suffered torn ligaments in his elbow. After a medical examination at the elbow Tuesday, he learned otherwise.

As he threw that pitch last Monday, he had a broken tip of his elbow - It's called the olecranon - but he did not damage the ligaments.

"Really, really satisfactory news," Zumaya said. "I left it in God's hands, and I think he gave me a blessing that I needed (a ligament surgery)."

Head trainer Kevin Rand said athletic, "This is probably the best case scenario we had hoped."

"It's the best worst news we could have been," manager Jim Leyland said. It is possible that further testing will prove that Zumaya has a surgery, "said Rand.

In more encouraging scenario - the one to break that Zumaya has enrolled - will heal without surgery in four months and Zumaya will return in spring training.

Zumaya vote Tuesday was not one of disappointment, of someone who is ready for this season, but certainly someone to pitch next season.

"I know it will take four months to heal," he said. "It's not 12 months. I am a hardworking man. I will not give up.

"I have a son (born last year) that I want to see me play baseball, so I'm not going to give up."

This is the fourth consecutive year that Zumaya has significantly shortened season due to injury. He does not have a full season of health since his remarkable rookie season of '06.

"I worked too hard for this to happen," said Zumaya, 25. "All I wanted was a full year of health."

With no guarantee of a job entering this year's Spring Training, Zumaya back from shoulder surgery in August to a key late-inning bullpen role in the recovery. He was throwing 100 miles per hour regular this season, just like in '06.

When he was injured Monday night at his place for Delmon Young, he was protecting the eighth inning to lead the first place at stake.

"It felt like my elbow exploded," Zumaya said. "Crying in front of 40,000 people is pretty weak. But it's a lot of pain, and I felt like I had nobody on my side.

"But when (fans) got up on their feet and began to cheer, and then the whole team was my consolation after the game, it meant a lot to me. I'm glad I still have a chance, and hopefully all will I want to go. "