Braves right-hander Ian Anderson likely will undergo Tommy John surgery that will end his 2023 season, a person familiar with the situation told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The surgery usually is done to repair a torn UCL (the team has not confirmed the specifics of his injury).
Anderson, 24, is coming off the most difficult season of his young career, posting a 5.00 ERA in 22 starts that led to a demotion to Triple-A Gwinnett. He walked over four batters per nine innings. His command issues continued this spring when Anderson walked eight batters in 7-1/3 innings, which led to him beginning the year in Gwinnett.
He made only one start in Triple-A, recording just two outs while allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits. He surrendered three home runs despite facing only nine hitters. The team then put him on the seven-day injured list with a right-elbow injury.
Anderson will hope he can right his career when he returns to the mound. He’s an extremely accomplished youngster. Among his highlights: Outdueling Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in his MLB debut, pitching the division-clinching game in 2021, pitching five no-hit innings in Game 5 of the 2021 World Series.
“He’s been through more than some guys do in a whole career at a young age,” manager Brian Snitker said Tuesday. “When he first came up, all the big games he’s pitched for us and how valuable he’s been for us. He’s been through a lot at a young age. He’s experienced a lot of big, big games. Hopefully he can get this done, get back to being whole again and the Ian Anderson that we know.”
Anderson had a 3.25 ERA over his first 30 starts (across two seasons). He owns a 1.59 ERA in eight postseason outings (35-2/3 innings). During his rookie season, he produced three consecutive scoreless starts in the postseason, helping the Braves reach the National League Championship Series for the first time in 19 years. The following year, he had a 1.59 ERA over four postseason starts as the Braves won their second championship since moving to Atlanta.
Which made last season’s struggles all-the-more bizarre. Anderson hit his first true rough stretch as a major leaguer.
“It was all a whirlwind when I came up, COVID year (2020), I was flying blind,” Anderson said during spring training. “In 2021, same kind of thing. We weren’t doing very well then all of a sudden we can’t lose and go all the way and win the World Series. Last year was (my) first, ‘Man, this is what the big leagues is.’ It’s tough.”
Snitker on Tuesday: “It (that Anderson requires surgery) probably answers questions more so with Ian that he wasn’t anything he did or didn’t do. It’s just one of those things that happens. He was doing everything right, it’s just the life of a pitcher, I guess.”
Snitker said the only time Anderson mentioned any discomfort was following his latest outing for Gwinnett. He said it’s “imminent” that Anderson will undergo the surgery.
In the present, losing Anderson damages the team’s rotation depth. The Braves have lost Max Fried (hamstring; not expected to be extended absence) and Kyle Wright, who returned Tuesday, early this season. Rookies Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd (who was optioned to Triple-A on Tuesday) have made two starts each. Bryce Elder hasn’t allowed a run in 12-1/3 innings and has made the most of his opportunity.
Then there’s Michael Soroka, the 2019 All-Star who hasn’t appeared in a major-league game since before Anderson debuted. Soroka made his second start for Gwinnett on Tuesday and put up good numbers. If he stays healthy and continues progressing, he eventually could help the pitching staff, too.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan was the first to report Anderson was facing Tommy John surgery.
-Staff writer Justin Toscano contributed to this article.
