Oakland Athletics pitcher Ken Waldichuk undergoes elbow surgery

May 17, 2024, 9:57 AM

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Ken Waldichuk #64 of the Oakland Athletics in the first inning ...

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

The Oakland Athletics announced on Thursday that left-handed starting pitcher Ken Waldichuk underwent season-ending Tommy John Surgery on Wednesday in Los Angeles.

Famed sports surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the procedure, which was a flexor tendon repair and a full reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament in Waldichuk’s pitching elbow.

Waldichuk also had an internal brace procedure, a route that more pitchers–and even some position players–around the MLB have chosen, 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 remainder of the 2024 season and is on a 13-month recovery plan that would put him back on a major-league mound in June 2025.

Ken Waldichuk Medical Update pic.twitter.com/F9T1gAPrM7

— Oakland A’s Communications (@AthleticsPR) May 16, 2024

“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.