Astros right-handed pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. is out for the 2023 season after having surgery on his right forearm to repair the flexor tendon and remove a bone spur.
General manager Dana Brown announced Wednesday that McCullers had the surgery on Tuesday evening.
"Initially, we thought that the bone spur was a little bit smaller, but when they went in, it was more of the size of a lima bean, as opposed to something smaller which we think ultimately was causing somebody to discomfort in the arm, so the decision was made to have surgery," Brown told reporters on Wednesday.
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Brown did not offer a timetable for when McCullers will return. He will be able to start throwing in November and the team will re-asses his status in January.
McCullers originally injured the flexor tendon in his right forearm while pitching in Game 4 of the 2021 American League Division Series vs. the White Sox.
McCullers eventually returned later in the 2022 season, pitching eight regular season starts and through the postseason for another Astros World Series.
The tendon was aggravated while throwing a bullpen session in West Palm Beach in February of this season, the team said Wednesday.
“After the injury happened in February, Lance worked his tail off to get back on the mound,” Brown said in a statement. “This guy is a warrior and did everything in his power to get back. But each time he built himself up to an increased pitch total off the mound, the pain would come back. It’s unfortunate, but we look forward to him being back on the mound next season.”
McCullers is 49-32 in his Major League career with a 3.48 ERA (278ER/718.2IP) with 800 strikeouts in 718.2 innings pitched and a .215 opponents’ batting average. He is 28-11 in his career at Minute Maid Park with a 2.67 ERA, which is the lowest ERA in franchise history at Minute Maid Park among starting pitchers (min. 60 GS). He has also posted a 3.47 ERA in 72.2 career postseason innings, the latter ranking second in franchise history.
But injuries have also come to define his career with the Astros. He dealt with a back injury in 2017, before a heroic performance in Game 7 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees to send Houston to the World Series.
McCullers had Tommy John surgery in 2018, returning for the pandemic shortened 2020 season.
The Astros signed him to a five-year, $85 million contract extension ahead of the 2021 season.
Brandon Scott is the editor for SportsRadio610.com. Follow him on Twitter @brandonkscott. Reach him directly via email: brandon.scott@audacy.com.
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