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Red Sox News: Top pitching prospect Bryan Mata suffers slight UCL tear

By Brendan Mizgala

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Bryan Mata #90 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 27: Bryan Mata #90 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning of a Grapefruit League spring training game at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 27, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Red Sox prospect Bryan Mata suffers UCL tear

Earlier today, it was reported by multiple sources that Red Sox pitching prospect Bryan Mata has suffered a slight tear of his UCL. As it stands right now, the team is going to work through a treatment regimen to try and avoid surgery. Mata is Boston’s top pitching prospect and currently sits third in line overall in the farm system, per Sox Prospects.

Christopher Smith of Masslive.com reported the injury a short while ago and the news was corroborated by WEEI’s Rob Bradford. This is a big blow for the Red Sox as Mata has been chomping at the bit to get to the big leagues and very well could’ve made the jump this season. Having the MiLB back in 2021 will afford him a great chance at getting real reps again and possibly getting promoted.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora spoke about Mata’s injury and the skipper is optimistic that based on the severity of the injury, they can avoid surgery for the righty.

"“Unfortunately with Bryan, he has a slight tear in his UCL,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday. “So we’re going to shut him down. The way we’re going to go with him is going to be treatment. The doctors and the physicians feel like it’s small enough that we think with treatment and doing that, he should be fine.”"

The good thing for Mata is that he’s only 21-years-old and has plenty left in the tank. If he does have to miss significant time to heal up it won’t eat too much into his career. In my mind, the right thing to do is exactly what Cora and the Red Sox plan on doing, take their time and let his body heal. If they rush things then they’re almost guaranteeing a setback and eventually surgery. In many cases, it’s the safer and smarter route to go right away but with his age, it feels like a much better move to see how his body reacts to treatment first.

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This isn’t the first time a Red Sox pitcher has had to deal with a beaten-up UCL as that’s the issue that Chris Sale ran into before ultimately choosing to go for Tommy John. Obviously, Mata has the age advantage on The Condor as well as far less wear and tear on the ligament, but the idea of TJS still needs to be in the back of everyone’s minds. For now, the patient approach is what will serve both sides the best and can mean the world to the righty’s health in the long run.

"“Obviously we have to be patient and see how he reacts,” Cora said. “When you start talking about the UCL, obviously it’s something that we don’t feel comfortable, of course, because it’s the UCL. We’ve just got to be patient. And he has to be patient.”"

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Bryan Mata is a future cornerstone for the Boston Red Sox and as Alex Cora put it, this is just a minor roadblock. Getting the right-hander healthy and back on the mound goes hand in hand and the process cannot be rushed. His standing in the farm system will remain whether he’s out for a month or four, his path to the Majors is still there. Hopefully, the patient approach allows him to get back to what he loves to do and we see him chucking gas at Fenway Park in no time.

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