Red Sox starter Giolito undergoes season ending elbow surgery

*Photo from the Chicago Sun Times*

   Boston Red Sox RHP Lucas Giolito underwent surgery to repair a torn UCL in his throwing arm on Tuesday in Alabama on Tuesday, according to an announcement by the team.

   The surgery was done as an internal brace procedure and not Tommy John Surgery. Giolito will still miss the 2024 season but will have an earlier return date in 2025 than he would have if he had Tommy John Surgery. With the internal brace procedure, Giolito could be able to pitch in the entire 2025 season if his rehab progresses as planned.

   Last week, it was announced that Giolito had an elbow injury while reports came in that he had a partially torn UCL and flexor strain in his throwing arm. After getting a second opinion, Giolito had the prodcedure on his UCL. He had already undergone Tommy John Surgery in 2012.

   Giolito first felt discomfort in his arm during his second spring training start with the Red Sox on March 1 against the Minnesota Twins. He left after 2 1/3 innings and alerted manager Alex Cora and the team's medical staff to the discomfort.

   After pitching for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians last season, Giolito hit free agency after the World Series. At the end of December, he signed a one year deal with the Red Sox worth $19 million with a player option worth $19.5 million for 2025. 

   If Giolito throws less than 140 innings in 2025, the Red Sox have a $14 million team option for 2026. That option would become $19 million for 2026 if he exceeds 140 innings pitched in 2025. Giolito has said on many occasions he hopes to throw 200 innings in a season.

   Cora said of the outcome that "I do believe it was the best-case scenario. The hope is for him to be ready whenever he's ready. Seeing what has happened with this procedure in the past, he's gonna be able to go out there and throw his changeup and his good fastball and help the Red Sox win some more games."

   With Giolito out of the picture for 2024, the Red Sox rotation has Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello, and Kutter Crawford as the 3 locks for a spot. The final two spots come down to a combination of Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock, Josh Winckowski and offseason addition Cooper Criswell, barring any external additions.