Lively to undergo elbow surgery, will miss 12-16 months
DETROIT — Ben Lively, a stable presence in the Guardians’ starting rotation the past two seasons, will undergo right UCL reconstruction surgery and a flexor tendon repair, which is estimated to sideline him for 12 to 16 months.
No date has been set, but the 33-year-old’s surgery is expected in the coming days with Dr. Keith Meister.
Lively exited his start against the Brewers on May 12 after three innings due to right forearm inflammation, and he went on the 15-day IL the next day with a right flexor tendon strain.
The right-hander received an additional opinion from Meister on Tuesday in Arlington. Meister confirmed the presence of Lively’s flexor tendon injury, and he additionally noted medial elbow joint laxity due to an insufficient ulnar collateral ligament. Meister and the Guardians’ medical team believe that dynamic is placing added stress on Lively’s flexor muscles, hence the recommendation for surgery.
It’s tough news for the Guardians and Lively, who has been a steady starter since he signed a one-year deal with Cleveland on Dec. 12, 2023. Last season, he recorded a 3.81 ERA in 151 innings over 29 starts, crucial production after Cleveland lost ace Shane Bieber to Tommy John surgery in April.
In nine starts this season, Lively recorded a 3.22 ERA — which ranked first among Cleveland starters — in 44 2/3 innings. The Guardians’ rotation collectively entered Friday’s series opener against the Tigers with a 4.05 ERA (19th in the Majors) across 251 1/3 innings pitched (23rd).
Lively felt the forearm issue during his start against the Nationals on May 6, when he allowed one run on two hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings, but exited after just 63 pitches. The right-hander went through his normal between-starts progression leading up to his start against Milwaukee, when he threw three scoreless innings before departing ahead of the top of the fourth after tossing a few warmup pitches.
With Lively’s season over, the Guardians’ rotation picture in the immediate future includes Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Luis Ortiz, Logan Allen and Slade Cecconi.
Cecconi, who is set to start Friday in Detroit, pitched in place of Lively on Saturday against the Reds; he was charged with three runs on five hits in five innings while striking out eight. Cleveland acquired Cecconi from Arizona in the Josh Naylor trade on Dec. 21.
Bieber is making positive steps in his Tommy John rehab, though he still has steps ahead of him. But he could return to game action in the coming weeks, likely beginning with an appearance in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Joining a Minor League affiliate for a rehab assignment would figure to be Bieber’s ensuing step.
Looking further into the summer, lefty John Means is another potential rotation option. Means, who signed a one-year deal on Feb. 19, has been rehabbing in Arizona from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last June while he was with the Orioles.