Breaking: Braves Reveal Star Pitcher Had Reconstructive Elbow Surgery And Will…

admin | April 13, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

The Atlanta Braves are going to be without their star pitcher for at least the rest of 2024

The Atlanta Braves announced this morning that standout pitcher Spencer Strider underwent reconstructive surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and would miss the rest of the 2024 season.

This is Strider’s second UCL reconstruction; he had one done in 2019 at Clemson University.

Dr. Keith Meister of Dallas, TX, performed the procedure on Friday. Meister frequently performs elbow surgeries on Atlanta pitchers. Meister, the Texas Rangers’ team physician, is the new go-to surgeon for elbow surgeries, following the retirement of famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews in January of this year. Meister’s performed Tommy John surgeries on star pitchers Sandy Alcantara, Shane McClanahan, and Jacob deGrom last year, as well as current Braves pitchers Ian Anderson, Tyler Matzek, and Huascar Ynoa, prospect Blake Burkhalter, and former Braves pitcher and current San Francisco Giants reliever Luke Jackson.

Atlanta stated that the surgical option used was the “internal brace” approach, which has gained favor in recent years and could potentially result in a quicker recovery time and (theoretically) provide greater support to the arm once the pitcher returns to play.

In a typical UCL repair, a donor ligament (from the patient’s forearm or leg or a cadaver) is sewed into the elbow joint and weaved in a figure-eight pattern. The ligament heals, and the pitcher can return to action in fourteen to eighteen months, depending on how the rehab goes.

The internal brace method, a newer approach that has gained popularity in recent years, has been used on several major league players, notably Shohei Ohtani for his second UCL injury and Lucas Giolito for his second. After the UCL is repaired, a tape-like suture is placed into the humerus (the top bone of the arm) and ulna (the forearm), which remains in place after the player resumes play. It will improve stability to the joint structure in the future, usually (but not always) allowing for a faster return to play.

While full returns to play following a second Tommy John surgery are uncommon, several famous MLB success stories include Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and former Braves reliever Jonny Venters, who underwent three Tommy John operations and returned to the league.

RHP Spencer Strider yesterday underwent surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow with internal brace, performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, TX. He will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 13, 2024