Lucas Giolito’s first season as a member of the Boston Red Sox may be over before it starts.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Giolito has a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament and flexor strain that may require surgery, potentially sidelining the right-hander for the entire 2024 season and beyond.
Brutal news: Initial imaging showed Boston Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito likely has a partially torn UCL and flexor strain and could miss the 2024 season, league sources tell ESPN. Giolito, who signed a two-year deal with Boston, may need surgery to repair the right-elbow damage.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 5, 2024
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Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters Tuesday that Giolito felt discomfort in his elbow after his last start and that the club was concerned. Cora said Giolito is doubtful for opening day, and now it’s unclear when he’ll be able to pitch at all.
The news is a devastating blow for the Red Sox, who were counting on Giolito to anchor the rotation. Signed to a two-year, $38.5 million contract in the offseason, the 29-year-old has been among the most durable starters in baseball over the last six years.
He’s coming off a 2023 season in which he made 33 starts while throwing a career-high 184 1/3 innings for the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians. He also gave up an American League-high 41 home runs and had a 4.88 ERA.
Now the Red Sox once again will count on the same group of young arms that largely couldn’t consistently pitch deep into games last season. Brayan Bello and Nick Pivetta were already locked into the rotation, and Kutter Crawford, Tanner Houck, Garrett Whitlock and Josh Winckowski will compete for the remaining three spots.
Cora said Giolito will have additional exams to determine the severity of the injury.
“We’re obviously concerned,” he told reporters in Florida. “Not a good day for us.”
Giolito made two starts in spring training, throwing two scoreless innings in his first outing before getting roughed up against the Minnesota Twins on Friday, allowing four runs and three walks in 2 1/3 innings. It was after that start that he reported the discomfort in his elbow.
A first-round pick (No. 16) by the Washington Nationals in the 2012 amateur draft, Giolito made his professional debut Aug. 14 of that year in the Gulf Coast League. That was his only appearance before Tommy John surgery on Aug. 31, 2012, by Dr. Lewis Yocum.
Giolito returned to the mound the following July and made his big-league debut in June 2016. The Nationals traded him to the White Sox in December 2016, and he was an All-Star in 2019. From 2019-21, Giolito had a 3.47 ERA, averaged 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings and threw a no-hitter in 2020.
Associated Press contributed.