After struggling in his last start on April 5 and showing diminished velocity, Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider complained about elbow discomfort.
He was sent for an MRI that later revealed damage to the UCL, a ligament in his right elbow.
On Saturday, the Braves announced that Strider underwent successful elbow surgery and will be out for the remainder of the season.
“Braves announce RHP Spencer Strider underwent UCL surgery in right elbow and will miss 2024 season,” MLB tweeted.
Braves announce RHP Spencer Strider underwent UCL surgery in right elbow and will miss 2024 season. pic.twitter.com/Rmdv5wTAjd
— MLB (@MLB) April 13, 2024
It’s awful news for Braves fans and baseball in general, as Strider is one of the most exciting pitchers to watch given his strikeout potential.
Last year, he posted a 3.86 ERA and accumulated a league-leading 281 punchouts.
His participation in the 2024 campaign was limited to just two starts, in which he posted a 7.00 ERA in nine innings.
If there is a silver lining in this development, it is that Strider reportedly did not undergo Tommy John surgery, which is a ligament-replacement procedure.
The one he got was an internal brace procedure to repair the UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) in his right elbow, as opposed to a complete Tommy John ligament reconstruction.
It means that he can be back much, much sooner than if he had undergone Tommy John.
Tommy John surgery usually takes between 14-16 months for pitchers to return, which would have put Strider’s participation in the 2025 campaign in jeopardy.
With the internal brace, there is a chance he will be ready in the first few months of the 2025 season.
In any case, elbow injuries took down yet another talented pitcher this year, and that’s always disappointing.
The post Braves Lose Star Pitcher For The Season After Elbow Surgery appeared first on The Cold Wire.