Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito underwent ulnar collateral ligament surgery, the team announced Wednesday. Giolito had an internal brace repair to repair the UCL in his right elbow on Tuesday and is expected to miss the entirety of the 2024 season.
Giolito was signed by the Red Sox as a free agent this offseason. The 29-year-old’s contract pays him $18 million for 2024 and includes a $19 million player option for 2025. The contract also includes a conditional option for 2026.
Boston acquired Giolito this winter after he went just 8-15 with a 4.88 ERA over 33 starts with three different teams last season. It was an off-season for Giolito, who had garnered Cy Young votes in three of his previous seven campaigns.
Red Sox to be without Giolito until 2025
Boston was hoping for a big bounce-back season out of Giolito in 2024. However, he experienced discomfort in his right throwing elbow during a spring training appearance against the Minnesota Twins on March 1. He went 2-2/3 innings against the Twins, giving up two hits, four runs, and three walks.
After undergoing tests, it was found that Giolito had damage in his right UCL that required surgery. However, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters that the hurler stands a good chance of being ready to return to start the 2025 season. He said:
“He’ll go through the process and hopefully he gets back sooner rather than later, whenever that is. I do believe it was the best-case scenario. We don’t know how the rehab is going to go, but the hope is for him to be ready whenever he’s ready. Seeing what has happened with this [bracing] procedure in the past, he’s going to be able to go out there and throw his changeup and his good fastball and help the Red Sox win some more games.”
Lucas Giolito likely to exercise 2025 option with Red Sox
Provided that there won’t be teams lining up to sign Giolito as a free agent next offseason following a lost 2024, the former Chicago White Sox ace will likely exercise his option with Boston this coming winter. In eight MLB seasons, Giolito is 61-62 with a 4.43 ERA and 1,077 strikeouts.
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Tom Carothers is a sportswriter with more than 20 years of experience covering sports at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Still longing for the return of his Minnesota North Stars, he has a high pain tolerance as a big fan of the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Browns, and Tottenham Hotspur. You can follow him on X at @tomcarothers.