Rays’ right-hander Andrew Kittredge will be undergoing Tommy John surgery, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
This news comes as a very unfortunate development for Kittredge and the team. The righty had been placed on the 15-day injured list just yesterday, with manager Kevin Cash telling reporters that Kittredge needed a procedure to remove a loose body from his elbow. Though he was expected to miss at least a month, it appears that further testing has revealed the situation is actually much more dire, with Kittredge now to miss the remainder of the season, and likely much of 2023 as well.
Last year was a tremendous breakout for the reliever, as he threw 71 2/3 innings with a 1.88 ERA, 27.3% strikeout rate, 5.3% walk rate and 53.5% ground ball rate. That success earned him a key role in the bullpen, as he eventually earned eight saves and seven holds. This year, he has been slowed by a few injuries, as he also spent time on the IL due to a back issue earlier this year. Through 20 frames on the season, his ERA has gone up to 3.15 while his strikeout rate has fallen all the way to 18.7%.
For Kittredge personally, it’s very unfortunate given his late-bloomer status. He didn’t make his major league debut until he was 27 and is currently 32 years old. He finished last season with three years and 70 days of service time, qualifying for arbitration for the first time. He and the team agreed to a $1.85MM salary for this year. With another season like he had in 2021, he could have earned himself a nice raise going forward. Unfortunately, this mostly lost season will limit him in that department.
For the Rays, it’s an unfortunate blow to a bullpen that has already taken a few punches this year. Nick Anderson, Pete Fairbanks, JT Chargois and Chris Mazza are all already on the 60-day IL due to significant injuries and will now be joined by Kittredge whenever the Rays need to open up a spot on the 40-man roster. They also recently lost J.P. Feyereisen to the 15-day IL. Despite missing those players as well as a bunch of starting pitchers, the club enters play tonight with a record of 34-23, placing them in the American League’s top Wild Card spot.
That stinks:(
Politicians who throw each other under the bus are being scheduled for TJS
Rough day for injuries for everyone.
Oprah handing out TJS today.
Me and my wiffle ball arm are about to be next.
and one for me next time i try and throw a fastball
Some of these surgeries sound either unnecessary or that the doctor was specifically looking for any slight issue in order to do the surgery. TJ surgery is almost miraculous for some people, but I really don’t think 50% of all pitchers (or whatever the ungodly number is) need to have it.
Times have changed over the past 50-60 years, but the human body has not really changed that much.
The human body hasn’t changed but diagnosis and treatment have evolved greatly. There is not some conspiracy of doctors looking to do unnecessary surgery. Pitching has always been bad for the arm, there’s just more that can be identified and dealt with now. A lot has changed. A lot.
Yes I realize all of that. And I am not talking about some cabal of doctors setting up a conspiracy here. I think is just about being overly cautious.
It’s a common problem in baseball today and in life. Getting TJ surgery as a precaution for what might happen in the future is just stupid. Why on earth would you do the worst case scenario before anything happens? Just keep going. Worst case scenario, the ligament does tear and he would have to get TJ surgery then. How is it better to just assume worst case scenario now?
I know TJ is relatively safe and most recover just fine. But not everyone. And that one college pitcher died during the surgery. Tiny risk, but seems like a bit much for a precautionary measure.
Not that I agree with you, but I find it kind of weird that he can throw from throwing 96 to needing Tommy John a few days later.
The surgery has degrees of need. For some it’s entirely voluntary (at the moment, the future it may become needed but for now it’s precautionary or just getting the inevitable over with now). I’d assume that others just can’t throw without the surgery. The injury is a spectrum, not a dichotomy (it’s not either you can’t pitch or you don’t need the surgery).
Maybe time to train patrano for the fireball role…
Tough loss for the Rays. Kittredge has been one of their best bullpen arms the past couple of seasons
It seems like every week a Rays pitcher gets hurt.
Call to the Durham Bull-pen for Phoenix Sanders.
The Rays use them up and then toss them aside. It’s a poor way to conduct business, imho.
It’s not poor business it’s the nature of the sport. Winning is the goal. These players are very well compensated. No need for coddling, just use the winning strategy. Or get into a different business. I see no evidence that the Rays push their pitchers harder than anyone else. In fact, I’d guess less.