Braves reliever Luke Jackson underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday to reconstruct his right UCL. Dr. Keith Meister performed the surgery in Arlington, Texas.

Earlier this month, an MRI revealed damage to Jackson’s UCL. Jackson underwent evaluation to determine the next steps, which was expected to include season-ending surgery.

Jackson, 30, was a key component of the Braves’ bullpen last season. He had a 1.98 ERA with a 70:29 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 71 games. He held the opposition scoreless in nine of his 11 postseason appearances, helping the Braves win the World Series.

While losing Jackson was a blow, the team aggressively upgraded its bullpen before the season. It acquired proven veterans Kenley Jansen and Collin McHugh. It also signed right-hander Kirby Yates, a former All-Star who’s expected to join the team later this season.

Jackson is scheduled to become a free agent this winter.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) gets the force out on New York Mets' Hayden Senger (30) as he slides into second base during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Credit: AP

Featured

In 2022, Georgia Power projected its winter peak electricity demand would grow by about 400 megawatts by 2031. Since then, Georgia has experienced a boom of data centers, which require a large load of electricty to run, and Georgia Power's recent forecast shows peak demand growing by 20 times the 400-megawatt estimate from just three years ago. (Illustration by Philip Robibero/AJC)

Credit: Illustration: Philip Robibero / AJC