Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Waldichuk underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk was initially diagnosed with a UCL tear last October. He opted for a minor procedure on his elbow last fall in hopes of avoiding the surgery he eventually had Wednesday. The left-hander figures to be sidelined until around midseason of 2025.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Slated for elbow surgery
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Waldichuk will undergo left elbow surgery Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk elected to have a more conservative procedure after being diagnosed with a UCL sprain and flexor strain last October, but he recently had a setback and will require another operation. The Athletics won't provide more details until Waldichuk's surgery is completed Wednesday, but the upcoming procedure promises to be more invasive and will likely prevent him from pitching this season.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Visit with Dr. ElAttrache scheduled
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Waldichuk (elbow) will visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk recently had a setback while throwing a live batting practice session. He was diagnosed last October with a UCL sprain and flexor strain but chose a more conservative Tenex procedure to remove scar tissue and help alleviate pain. More will be known after Monday's exam, but his upcoming meeting with Dr. ElAttrache would seem to suggest that Waldichuk's treatment plan hasn't panned out as anticipated.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Setback after live BP
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Waldichuk (elbow) experienced a setback after throwing a 25-pitch live batting practice April 29 and is shut down for the time being, MLB.com reports.
The left-hander has not thrown since that session and is slated to be reevaluated in the coming days. It's naturally a tough break for Waldichuk, who opened the season on the 60-day IL but had been making uninterrupted progress prior to this recent stumble. Given Waldichuk will almost certainly require a full-length rehab assignment whenever he is cleared for game action, he may be hard-pressed to be ready for activation before mid-June.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Tosses live BP
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Waldichuk (elbow) threw 25 pitches against live hitters Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk continues to advance in his rehab, and he's now scheduled to throw a sim game before potentially being sent out on a rehab assignment, per Gallegos. The southpaw figures to get a day or two off before his scheduled sim game.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Improves velocity in latest bullpen
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Waldichuk (elbow) threw a successful 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports. "Waldichuk looked really good and got his velocity up from his last bullpen," said A's manager Mark Kotsay. "He's trending in the right direction."
Waldichuk has now thrown three bullpen sessions over the last eight days alone, certainly an encouraging sign with respect to his surgically repaired elbow's strength. The left-hander is slated to throw additional bullpen sessions during the Athletics' road trip before facing hitters in a simulated game at some point next week, after which he'll head out on a rehab assignment, per Kotsay.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Nearing rehab assignment
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Waldichuk (elbow) could begin a rehab assignment sometime next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The lefty has joined the Athletics on their road trip and will throw four bullpen sessions before being sent out on a rehab assignment. Waldichuk was diagnosed last October with a UCL sprain and flexor strain, but he chose a more conservative Tenex procedure to remove scar tissue and help alleviate pain. He will be built up as a starter, so Waldichuk will likely need most of his 30-day rehab allotment before being an option for the Oakland rotation. The southpaw is on the 60-day injured list and won't be eligible for activation until late May.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Another good bullpen Friday
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Waldichuk (elbow) threw between 20 and 25 pitches in a bullpen session Friday, the Associated Press reports.
It's the second bullpen session for Waldichuk this week, as the left-hander continues a deliberate throwing program. Waldichuk could be deemed ready to face live hitters after Friday's session, although how he recovers over the weekend from the activity will likely be the determining factor in whether he progresses to the next step.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Encouraging bullpen Monday
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Waldichuk (elbow) threw a bullpen session Monday that went off without any setbacks, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.
Manager Mark Kotsay remarked that "so far everything is going in the right direction for Kenny," adding the left-hander continues to feel good during his ramp-up process. While Waldichuk continues without a timetable for return, he may only need another bullpen session or two before progressing to facing live hitters.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Bullpen session on tap
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Waldichuk (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Wednesday will be Waldichuk's first time throwing off a mound since undergoing surgery in October to address a sprained UCL and damaged flexor tendon in his left elbow. He's slated to throw 25 pitches during his first bullpen session and will certainly require more sessions in order to build up to a typical starter's workload.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Progress encouraging
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Waldichuk (elbow) is progressing "great" according to manager Mark Kotsay, but the left-hander remains without a timetable to begin throwing off a mound, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.
The 26-year-old southpaw appears to be nearing the back end of his recovery from October surgery for a UCL sprain and flexor tendon damage, but this report indicates he's not quite there yet. A mid-February report had indicated there was a possibility Waldichuk would be ready to throw bullpen sessions by the end of spring training, and while that hasn't come to pass, it appears Kotsay is encouraged by the pace of Waldichuk's progress and the absence of setbacks.
Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Opens season on 60-day IL
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The Athletics placed Waldichuk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Though Waldichuk has been cleared to play catch at the outset of spring training, he'll need at least two months to complete his throwing progression and get stretched out over a multi-start rehab assignment before he's ready to make his 2024 debut for Oakland. The southpaw was shut down for most of the offseason after he underwent surgery in October to address a UCL sprain as well as flexor tendon damage in his throwing arm.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Ready to throw
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Waldichuk (elbow) was cleared to play catch Wednesday and could be throwing bullpen sessions by the end of spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The left-hander is not expected to be ready for the start of the season, but ramping up his throwing program during spring training would be encouraging after he underwent surgery to repair UCL damage in his left elbow in October. Assuming there are no further complications, Waldichuk could theoretically be ready for game action by late April or early May.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Likely to miss start of season
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Waldichuk (elbow) likely won't be ready for the start of the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk underwent surgery in October to repair the damage done to his left UCL and flexor during his final start of 2023. Athletics general manager David Forst didn't offer a timeline for Waldichuk's return during Friday's call with reporters, so it remains unclear when the 26-year-old southpaw will be able to return to Oakland's rotation. Last year, Waldichuk put up a 5.36 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 141 innings -- his highest workload in a season since he was drafted in 2019.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Diagnosed with UCL, flexor damage
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Waldichuk underwent a Tenex procedure on Oct. 17 and received a PRP injection on Oct. 24 after being diagnosed with a left UCL sprain and flexor strain.
Waldichuk felt discomfort in his pitching elbow following his final start of the season back on Sept. 29 and an MRI and doctor visit revealed the bad news. The left-hander has opted for a conservative treatment rather than Tommy John surgery, with the minimally invasive Tenex procedure designed to remove scar tissue, and the PRP injection aimed to promote healing. Waldichuk is currently limited to physical therapy, and his timeline for a throwing program is up in the air.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Yields five runs in loss
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Waldichuk (4-9) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks over five innings Friday, striking out three and taking a loss against the Angels.
Waldichuk tossed three scoreless frames before the Angels plated three runs in the fourth inning. It was just the second time in his last 10 outings he'd given up more than two earned runs. During that stretch, Waldichuk produced a 3.42 ERA and a 43:17 K:BB. He'll end the 2023 season with a 5.36 ERA and 132 punchouts over 141 frames.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Turns in quality start
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Waldichuk (4-8) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over six innings to earn the win over the Tigers on Friday.
Waldichuk has two quality starts over four outings in September, and he also pitched six no-hit innings as a bulk reliever versus the Astros on Sept. 11. He's found some consistency with strong performances this month, lowering his ERA for the year to 5.29 with a 1.54 WHIP and 129:68 K:BB through 136 innings over 34 outings (21 starts). Waldichuk is likely set for one more appearance this season, which is tentatively scheduled to come on the road in Minnesota.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Slated to start Friday
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Waldichuk is listed as the Athletics' starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Tigers in Oakland, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
In his most recent outing this past Sunday against the Padres, Waldichuik worked in tandem with starter Joe Boyle, with the former covering four innings to the latter's three. Both pitchers look as though they'll be part of the rotation against Detroit this weekend, as Boyle is listed as Oakland's starting pitcher for Saturday. The Athletics could change course and deploy an opening pitcher in front of Waldichuk, but either way, the 25-year-old southpaw is slated to cover the bulk of the innings Friday.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Hit hard in Sunday's loss
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Waldichuk dropped to 3-8 on the season while working in bulk relief in Sunday's 10-1 loss to the Padres, striking out two while allowing six runs on nine hits.
Waldichuk entered Sunday's action having allowed just one run over his last 16 innings, but he undid most of that good work in the series finale with the Padres. While entering the game after opener Joe Boyle tossed three scoreless frames, Waldichuk was lit up by the Padres. The nine hits Waldichuk allowed tied for the most he's given up in any outing this season. It's been a rough campaign for Waldichuk, who now sits at a 5.40 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 122:68 K:BB in 130 innings. He could work in tandem with Boyle again when his next turn in the rotation comes up in the Athletics' series with the Tigers next weekend.
