The Oakland Athletics confirmed on Thursday that left-handed starting pitcher Ken Waldichuk had Tommy John surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday, which will end his season.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache, a renowned sports surgeon, performed the treatment in Waldichuk’s pitching elbow, which included a flexor tendon repair and a full replacement of the ulnar collateral ligament.
Waldichuk also underwent an internal bracing operation, which more pitchers and even some position players in the MLB have taken, including Boston Red Sox starter Lucas Gioloto, Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider, and Red Sox infielder Trevor Story. The 26-year-old will miss the rest of the 2024 season and is scheduled to return to the top leagues in June 2025 after a 13-month recuperation period.
“I know he’s got to be frustrated to have a setback and have to go through surgery,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said when asked about Waldichuk’s injury on Thursday. “But it’s what’s best for him and his career. We’ll get him back, hopefully, in 13 months. A lot of guys have come back from this procedure even better, so there’s a positive to that as well.”
Over 42 career appearances with Oakland, Waldichuk holds a record of 6-11 to go along with a 5.28 ERA and 165 strikeouts over 175.2 innings pitched since making his debut in 2022.
The southpaw was the marquee return in a July 2022 trade with the New York Yankees that sent Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino to the Bronx. Along with Waldichuk, the Athletics also acquired pitchers JP Sears and Luis Media in the deal.
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