It’s official. Johnny Cueto will have season-ending Tommy John surgery on Thursday in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Giants have announced.
The #SFGiants announced today that right-handed pitcher Johnny Cueto will undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the procedure at the Kerlin Jobe clinic in Los Angeles.
Cueto went 3-2 with a 3.23 ERA in nine starts this season.
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) August 2, 2018
Despite a strong March and April to open the season, Cueto has struggled with pain in his right elbow for much of the year. That pain culminated, finally, with Cueto being sent to the disabled list for the third time this season on Monday, following a four-inning start on Saturday.
Following Cueto’s assignment to the disabled list before Monday’s game against the San Diego Padres, manager Bruce Bochy gave an update on Cueto’s long-term status, saying that there was a “strong possibility” Cueto would get Tommy John surgery.
After Cueto’s last outing, he said, “Every time I throw a pitch, it bothers me.”
Cueto signed a six-year, $130 million contract with the Giants in 2016 and has struggled with injuries after a good first year with the team in which he made his second All-Star appearance. It is likely that Cueto will miss a good portion of the 2019 season has well as all of 2018. Cueto’s contract is guaranteed through 2021.
