Baltimore Orioles starter Kyle Bradish underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, while reliever Danny Coulombe will be sidelined until September following an elbow operation, according to general manager Mike Elias. The announcements came ahead of the Orioles’ game against the New York Yankees, adding to a series of serious setbacks for the team’s pitching staff this season.
Bradish, who finished fourth in AL Cy Young Award voting last year, had an internal brace inserted during a procedure performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Texas. The procedure aims to shorten Bradish’s recovery time, typically ranging from 12 to 18 months for a starting pitcher undergoing Tommy John surgery without an internal brace.
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde expressed disappointment over losing Bradish, describing him as a top-of-the-rotation type of pitcher. Bradish, 27, had a 2-0 record with a 2.75 ERA in eight starts this year, tallying 53 strikeouts and 15 walks in 39 1/3 innings. He had been dealing with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow since May, which delayed his season debut until May 2.
Meanwhile, Coulombe had bone chips removed from his pitching elbow by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The left-hander is expected to rejoin the Orioles in September. Coulombe, 32, had a 1-0 record with a 2.42 ERA and one save in 29 relief appearances this season but has been on the 15-day injured list since June 11 due to left elbow inflammation.
Manager Hyde praised Bradish’s toughness and competitive spirit, noting his significant contribution to the team’s success last year. Elias echoed these sentiments, acknowledging Bradish’s impressive performance before his injury.
In addition to these injuries, third baseman Jordan Westburg was out of the lineup due to left hip discomfort after colliding with Yankees star Juan Soto in Tuesday night’s game. However, Elias indicated that Westburg is day-to-day and is expected to avoid the injured list.
To address the roster changes, the Orioles selected the contract of utilityman Nick Maton from Triple-A Norfolk and optioned outfielder Kyle Stowers to the minors. Right-hander Tyler Wells, who had elbow surgery, was transferred to the 60-day injured list, effectively ending his season.
Despite the injuries to key pitchers, the Orioles entered Wednesday with the second-best record in the American League at 47-25, trailing the Yankees by 2 1/2 games in the AL East.
“We feel terrible for the guys that are hurt, but we’ve got to keep moving on,” Hyde said, emphasizing the team’s resilience in the face of adversity.
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