Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock shared some unfortunate news about his throwing elbow on the afternoon of May 25.
The right-hander will likely undergo an internal brace procedure to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm. The surgery is generally regarded as less severe than Tommy John surgery with a shorter recovery time, but the operation will still end Whitlock's season. He had Tommy John surgery in 2019 as part of the Yankees organization.
Whitlock's elbow injury is a crushing blow for Boston — he was initially placed on the 15-day injured list on April 17 with an oblique strain and his arm issues surfaced later. After a stellar rehab outing, Whitlock reported soreness in his right elbow, and imaging showed damage to his UCL. The 27-year-old will be the second Red Sox pitcher to have his season ended by the internal brace procedure after Lucas Giolito underwent the same surgery on March 12.
Whitlock had a stellar season before his placement on the IL. He pitched to a 1.96 with 17 strikeouts and seven walks in 18. innings. However, all hope is not lost for the Sox because Cooper Criswell has also posted standout numbers as a replacement in the rotation.
Garrett Whitlock likely to undergo internal brace procedure, Red Sox trade Pablo Reyes to Mets
"It's all about how you get back up, how you fight, and that's how I'm viewing this and that's how I'm attacking it."
— NESN (@NESN) May 25, 2024
Garrett Whitlock on being shut down for the remainder of the 2024 season with an elbow injury. pic.twitter.com/2G5Ae3j0DI
The Red Sox and the New York Mets made their second trade of the season on May 25. Boston sent utility infielder Pablo Reyes to New York for cash considerations.
The Red Sox designated Reyes for assignment on April 29 to give his roster spot to Garrett Cooper. He cleared waivers and was optioned to Triple-A Worcester, where he batted .462/.588/.692 over five appearances. Reyes struggled offensively with the Sox, he slashed .183/.234/.217 over 21 games.
Despite Reyes' offensive struggles in 2024, he'll always be remembered for hitting a walk-off grand slam against the Royals on Aug. 7, 2023. The Mets are likely interested in Reyes for his defensive versatility, but it has to be nice to know that he has a clutch hit in him sometimes.