Veteran Pitcher Wade Miley Reflects on Tommy John Surgery and Ambitions for a Comeback
Wade Miley was somewhat unique among pitchers.
After nearly 14 years in professional baseball and 12 years in the major leagues, the 37-year-old Miley underwent his first surgery last week in Cincinnati, a hybrid Tommy John procedure. The operation went smoothly.
However, as Miley said over the weekend, “It kind of sucks. If I knew it would hurt like this, I probably would have just retired. Seriously. The first few days have been brutal. I won’t have any more surgeries. Unless I’m about to die and they’ve got to do it.”
Having undergone Tommy John surgery, Miley aims to return next season at age 38. This specific hybrid procedure allows for a quicker recovery, theoretically resulting in a stronger elbow once fully healed. Dr. Timothy Kremchek performed the surgery, intending for Miley to pitch again in 2025.
“I’m going to try to be ready for spring training,” Miley said. “I think doing the hybrid puts me in a situation where I can come back quicker. I’m obviously at the end of my career, so I don’t really have anything to lose. I’m going to push it as much as I can. I’ll try to stay as safe as possible, but I’m aiming to come back as soon as possible.”
Being pain-free, both short-term and long-term, is a significant motivation for Miley.
Despite various arm injuries, Miley threw a no-hitter in 2021. Most pitchers experience some level of elbow or shoulder discomfort due to the nature of their job, and Miley had spent the last decade managing his arm as best he could. He made several trips to the injured list while with Arizona, Boston, Seattle, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Houston, Cincinnati, the Chicago Cubs, and then back with the Brewers last season. Despite these challenges, Miley still performed well, with his no-hitter on May 7, 2021, being a career highlight.
Miley made 22 starts and pitched 120 ⅓ innings for Milwaukee last season, signing a one-year, $8.5 million contract in December to return. But something seemed off from the start of spring training. He was eased into the season and made his debut on April 10. After his next start six days later, he could only pitch three innings and landed on the injured list on April 22.
“I knew I had some damage in 2014 that scar-tissued over,” he said. “It’s been bothering me, probably since 2020. We always thought it was inflammation from bone spurs. An MRI after the all-star break last year didn’t show the damage that was seen during surgery. I can’t pinpoint a specific day it happened. There wasn’t a lot of pain in spring, but the ball wasn’t coming out of my hand like I was used to. I remember a backdoor cutter to Spencer Steer in Cincinnati on April 10 that ‘zinged’ on me. But I threw a fastball right after that. It was 92 and right where I wanted it.”
Miley’s elbow swelled after that start, signaling something was really wrong. “It was pretty torn up,” Miley said about his UCL, having watched the hour-long surgery video.
After making 22 starts and pitching 120 ⅓ innings for the Brewers last year, Miley returned on a one-year, $8.5 million deal. He will rehab in Milwaukee and might consider coaching.
Miley’s left arm is currently in a large brace and will be for a while. He plans to stay with the team during his rehab, similar to how Brandon Woodruff is recovering from shoulder surgery. His presence will benefit the team, according to manager Pat Murphy. “He’s one of the highest-paid coaches in baseball right now,” Murphy joked. “He’s been great. I love having him around. He’s part of the fabric here. He’s crucial to this unit. He’s a special guy.”
If Miley’s comeback doesn’t work out and he has to retire, he’s already expressed interest in coaching. “I feel like I’m probably a baseball lifer. I would imagine staying in the game in some capacity. Unless my wife kills me.”
