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Royals’ Richard Lovelady Undergoes Tommy John Surgery

By Steve Adams | September 30, 2021 at 8:00am CDT

Royals left-hander Richard Lovelady announced late last night on Instagram that he underwent Tommy John surgery this week. It’s not entirely out of the blue, as the 26-year-old southpaw was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in late August.

Tommy John surgery will quite likely wipe out the entirety of the 2022 season for Lovelady, as most pitchers require more than a year of rehab work. The Cardinals’ Dakota Hudson is one recent exception, but even he returned just four days shy of his operation’s one-year anniversary. It’s technically possible that Lovelady could be ready late next September, but precedent very strongly suggests Spring Training 2023 is a likelier target date.

Losing Lovelady for a full year’s time is a notable hit to Kansas City’s bullpen outlook next season. Long rated as one of the organization’s most promising relief prospects, Lovelady has dominated in the minors and, in 2021, had begun to carry that success over to the big leagues. While Lovelady struggled in 21 MLB frames from 2019-20, he pitched to a 3.48 ERA with strong strikeout (27.1), walk  (7.1) and ground-ball (56.6) percentages in 20 2/3 innings this year. Combine that success with a career 2.12 ERA in the minor leagues, including a 2.51 mark in 107 1/3 Triple-A frames, and it’s easy to see why the organization is increasingly bullish on the lefty’s future.

The recent injury surely doesn’t change the Royals’ view that Lovelady can be a big part of their pitching staff down the road, but the wait for him to cement himself as such will now be further prolonged. That said, the Royals still control Lovelady all the way through the 2026 season, so even if he’s not back on a big league mound until 2023, they could still enjoy four full seasons of the talented lefty before he’s eligible to test the free-agent market. He’ll accrue a year of service time and big league pay next year on the 60-day injured list due to the fact that the injury occurred while he was pitching on the big league roster.

Looking ahead to the 2022 campaign, the Royals will lean heavily on the late-inning duo of Scott Barlow and Josh Staumont to close things down, while lefty Jake Brentz and righty Domingo Tapia have quite likely punched their tickets for a spot on the big league staff as well. Bullpen help, however, already figured to be a priority for the Kansas City front office this winter. Losing one of the team’s more promising arms for the majority or entirety of next season only makes that an even likelier area of focus for newly promoted president of baseball operations Dayton Moore, general manager J.J. Piccolo and the rest of the Royals’ baseball ops department.

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Kansas City Royals Richard Lovelady

Front Office Notes: Padres, Rangers, Phillies, Royals
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24 Comments

  1. Fever Pitch Guy

    4 years ago

    Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

    8
    Reply
  2. TLB2001

    4 years ago

    I don’t know that I would say it’s a “huge” hit to the bullpen. Obviously sucks but it’s a crowded bullpen picture even without him next year, if was far from a guarantee that a healthy Lovelady is pitching high leverage innings in 2022.

    Reply
    • TLB2001

      4 years ago

      Ok I see now it says notable. Either it was edited or I can’t read. I think that’s fair. Disregard the above.

      Reply
      • Steve Adams

        4 years ago

        I had “notable” from the get-go, ha, but no worries. Blame it on insufficient coffee intake in the still (relatively) early morning!

        4
        Reply
        • tstats

          4 years ago

          Steve, you’re amazing you know that right?

          3
          Reply
  3. Metsin777

    4 years ago

    If your gonna have the last name Lovelady, having the firstname Dick isn’t the smartest idea….

    7
    Reply
    • baseballpun

      4 years ago

      Counterpoint: It’s the best idea.

      19
      Reply
    • AHH-Rox

      4 years ago

      Would be a better story if his surgery was a debridement procedure.

      1
      Reply
    • hiflew

      4 years ago

      You’re right. Richard can be changed to several other nicknames which are not as funny. Smarter ideas would be Peter or Rod.

      Reply
    • SonnySteele

      4 years ago

      He should be in the same bullpen with Janson Junk.

      Reply
  4. retire21

    4 years ago

    Cots and wares for a needy skullduggery.

    Reply
    • riffraff

      4 years ago

      trying too hard

      11
      Reply
      • retire21

        4 years ago

        Brauts and cares for a weedy Montgomery?

        Reply
  5. Cohn Joppolella

    4 years ago

    Just stopping by to read some jokes about his name.

    10
    Reply
  6. Chief Two Hands

    4 years ago

    I think any man named “Lovelady” is doomed at birth.

    Reply
    • For Love of the Game

      4 years ago

      Why? I wouldn’t be surprised if women found his name charming. That and being a pro athlete might be good for his romantic life.

      1
      Reply
    • LordD99

      4 years ago

      …or, blessed?!

      Reply
  7. Orel Saxhiser

    4 years ago

    This story makes me want to listen to Lou Rawls.

    1
    Reply
    • For Love of the Game

      4 years ago

      I have a number of his songs on my phone. That smooth voice!

      Reply
      • Orel Saxhiser

        4 years ago

        “Lady luvvvv…”

        Reply
  8. mjpeez

    4 years ago

    Came here for the dick jokes

    1
    Reply
    • Orel Saxhiser

      4 years ago

      Welcome aboard, Mr. Callaway.

      2
      Reply
  9. sergefunction

    4 years ago

    Lord, love a Lovelady…

    Reply
  10. Dadbodfromseattle

    4 years ago

    I was happy when the Ms got tapia. I liked his stuff then we got rid of him after 2 innings. I knew it was a huge mistake now he’s balling out in kcmo. Ugh. U could create a all star team if former ms

    Reply

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