Orioles right-hander Chris Ellis will miss the rest of the 2022 season after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery today, manager Brandon Hyde told reporters (including The Baltimore Sun’s Andy Kostka). Dr. Keith Meister performed Ellis’ surgery today in Arlington.
It’s a rough outcome for Ellis, as arthroscopic procedures usually take the form of “clean-up” procedures, or at least less-serious types of surgeries that can allow a pitcher to return after perhaps 2-3 months, depending on the situation. In this case, however, there was obviously enough wrong with Ellis’ shoulder to require a lengthy recovery period. Ellis was also placed on the 10-day IL with right shoulder inflammation late last season, so it could be that his injury has lingered for some time.
Ellis elected free agency after being outrighted off Baltimore’s 40-man roster last year, and he re-signed with the club on a new minor league deal in mid-March. The O’s selected the righty’s contract on April 19 and he made two starts that differed wildly in quality. After tossing 4 1/3 shutout innings against the Athletics on April 19, Ellis didn’t record a single out while allowing five earned runs to the Angels on April 24. That latter start saw Ellis removed from the game in the first inning due to shoulder problems, and he was placed on the IL two days later with what was termed as shoulder inflammation.
The 29-year-old Ellis has a 3.12 ERA over 34 2/3 career innings in the majors, pitching in parts of the 2019, 2021, and 2022 seasons with the Royals, Rays, and Orioles. (Ellis didn’t pitch in 2020 due to the canceled minor league season.) He has bounced around to several other organizations during his eight pro seasons, and was part of the trade package sent by the Angels to the Braves in the Andrelton Simmons trade back in November 2015. Ellis had only 62 official days of Major League service time prior to the 2022 season, and he’ll continue to amass more service time once the Orioles place him on their 60-day injured list.
Definitely sucks from a longevity standpoint for him but I’m sure earning an MLB salary while injured doesn’t hurt. That $700K sure will help a guy who might not have too much earning power ahead of him.
It does amaze me that a pitcher can have nearly a 3 ERA in the bigs but be considered little more than emergency depth.
He really hasn’t pitched much in the big leagues.
Very small sample size, also we’re talking about a starter who has only averaged ~4 IP per start in MLB and was a .500 pitcher in AA and AAA with ERA north of 4. Not exactly the next Jim Palmer.
Not exactly the best time to be dogpiling a guy who is facing career impacting surgery. Be better.
When you walk as many as you strikeout, there’s not much to point to as proof you are more than just emergency depth. Especially when you put up a whip over 1.4 for your career in the minors.
Definitely a blow to their playoff chances.
Means and now Ellis. Hopefully the Orioles will sign another vet in the next day or so. Ellis did pitch effectively for the Orioles last year and I am sure the one game he pitched against the Angeles(bad) this year was because of his arm problems.
Griping analysis
Cue up DJ Khalid….
“Another one.”