5:25pm: The Red Sox issued an update to reporters, including Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe. His UCL and brace are both in tact, but he needs an ulnar nerve transposition. Three to five months is the expected range of his recovery, but it also could be longer.
3:27pm: Red Sox right-hander Zack Kelly will undergo right elbow surgery in the coming days, manager Alex Cora announced to the team’s beat this afternoon (Twitter link via Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com). While he won’t require Tommy John surgery, Kelly will require a procedure to repair a previous internal brace that was inserted into his pitching elbow.
Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic tweets that Kelly originally had an internal brace operation — an increasingly common Tommy John alternative that can be performed on some but not all ligament tears (dependent on the extent and placement of the damage) — performed back in 2020. Cora did not indicate whether Kelly might pitch again in 2023, only stating that he’ll be out “for awhile.” Kelly was already placed on the 60-day IL earlier this week when Boston claimed lefty Brennan Bernardino from the Mariners.
The 28-year-old Kelly sustained his current elbow injury when pitching against the Rays last week (video link via MLB.com). After letting go of an errant pitch that plunked infielder Yandy Diaz, Kelly immediately removed his glove, clutched his elbow, and dropped into a crouch. Trainers came to the mound, and an emotional Kelly walked off the field, clearly fearing that he’d incurred a substantial injury. That indeed was the case, as McCaffrey indicates the previously installed brace came detached on that ill-fated pitch. His ligament is intact, but the new procedure will reattach the brace.
The emotion shown is particularly understandable for Kelly, a 28-year-old journeyman who made his big league debut in Boston last season after going undrafted out of college and grinding through six minor league seasons between three organizations before finally getting his first cup of coffee. He pitched 13 2/3 innings with a solid 3.95 ERA in his debut campaign, and he’d tossed another 7 1/3 frames with three runs allowed in 2023. Overall, in 21 Major League innings, Kelly has a 3.86 ERA and 17-to-10 K/BB ratio.
Kelly pitched pretty well in limited action this season and hopefully makes it back later in the year
It’s always bad when something like this happens But this one is even worse considering he never gave up on his dream of playing major league baseball. I know a guy who played nine years in the minors. Every year he wondered if he should keep going. He did but never reached the majors.
avenger – Your friend should have called Bloom, he would have helped him get to the majors.
Probably 2024 more like it and hopefully with surgery as a success.
Kelly is another of those guys people should root for who went against everything scouts and people who predict players who will succeed become. undrafted, yet dominated at most levels of the minors and still got released by 2 organizations before the Red Sox signed him to the MiLB deal 3y ago, where he continued dominating at the minors level with a mid 90’s FB and wicked change.
Crying shame that after finally getting the chance to seemingly stick for good on a MLB pen this happens.
Feel good stories like this are what the game is about.
This is becoming like
Wow, I was cut off in the middle of my post…WTF?
Clock violation you have 20 seconds to type and post
Read the room, ump. Curlys old and still getting used to the pitch clock. Use some discretion!
Curly should have faked a Pitchcom malfunction.
Maybe it’s just Shemp’s time now.
Something story should think about he had the same procedure
Except Story at SS isn’t going to be making anywhere near the same number of throws in a season as a reliever like Kelly will. It seems to me this procedure makes a lot more sense for a position player vs. full Tommy John surgery.
Danged, I feel for the guy- he’s worked so hard to get to the show
I’m so keen-o on Bernardino
He’s done. He can still get in to meteorology or go on the high school motivational speaking circuit but his career is over
Done is better than never was.
This is a good guy, hope he can come back.
I wonder if Zack Kelly will be replaced on the roster by Slater Jesse. Or Screech Lisa.
nyy – Hey Hey Hey … what is going on here?
FPG – As someone who needed Ulnar Nerve Transposition in High School (back before the surgery was invented), Kelly’s got multiple issues working against him. To avoid TJ surgery he had a procedure that is new and it created friction on the ulner nerve inside the elbow. The symptoms are very aggravating because your elbow swells from the inflammation in the socket the nerve passes through and it causes your hands and sometimes your forearm to feel numb. Throwing a pitch hurts like someone is stabbing you in the elbow. By moving the nerve so the pinching is removed you solve the first problem but the alternative solution for TJ surgery still has to function properly for you to be able to pitch without further issues.
I feel sorry for the kid because he avoided TJ but that might not have been the best move. Based on his age, I can understand why he did it considering his progress in baseball but in the end he may have cost himself more time than if he had simply chosen TJ surgery.
Weird, as the Red Sox are beating up on 1st place teams, the Boards at MLBTR have gone quiet. Red Sox took 4 out 6 from them, while facing some of their toughest pitching.
10-10, while facing above .500 teams in 17 of 20 games.
Red Sox may be better than some people think.
It’s still only 2o games and I certainly hope you’re right. however a certain subset of the commenters will find a way to piss and moan regardless of how the team is doing.
Sure its been 20 games, but that hasnt stopped many negative posts when they had less games played.
This team is much better than what was spewed all winter.
The issue, imo, has never been the talent. It’s been the lack of depth. But we really need to have Kluber pitch better to become a competitive team.
Red Sox are competitive right now. Its not a future concept. Sox can be just fine if Kluber doesnt pitch better.
They have loads of starters that are pitching well. Looking at the 6th worst starter in a 6-man rotation makes no sense.
Joe and r smith… guys I was high on the hog when my buddy Brais had a win AND a save in a one run game no less.. now I’m just high thinking he turned the corner(lol) seriously after game one I said let’s see where we’re at after 20.. R I think you stated very solid vs above 500 teams and eee against rest… right now.. I feel glass half full… swept by rays and come home 5/7 against very solid competition… bullpen looks solid( forgive Brais) starting pitching on the rise (- kluber) so I’ll say it again.. schedule really cranks up and let’s see where we’re at after another 20… JOE after 04 all the misery left me… 07/13/18 made sure it never came back!!!
“schedule really cranks up and let’s see where we’re at after another 20”
Are you saying they had weak opponents in the first 20? But sure, April and May are tough, but then it gets easy in June, July. It all evens out. Lets see where we are at the end of July.
Baltimore/ Pittsburgh/ Detroit… yes … Tampa/ Minnesota.. no …LA ehh.. the sweeps are killers 1/3 and even 1/4 vs rays.. that’s what’s great about baseball.. nearly every year a last place team or a very poor team jumps up and makes the playoffs ( easier now with expanded playoffs) do I feel the Red Sox could be one of these teams.. sure. But realistically right now healthy ( which we’re not) playing in AL east it will not easy by any stretch.. I get we don’t play as many division games as last year but we cannot be steam rolled by division and think we can take 2/3 or 3/4 from every one else… I’m optimistic but also have to be realistic on situation as it sits now
“Crickets”
Red Sox win 4 out 6 no one has anything to say. Red Sox drop 4 out of 6 and this board is swarmed. Yeah you guys are Red Sox fans, not haters at all.
to be fair it was 5 of 7 hahaha
Is that a tumbleweed I saw blow thru the comment section? Where’d everybody go?
If the ‘r’ in your name stands for Reggie, I am going to call you Reggie from now on, mostly because he should be in the HOF.
The tumbleweeds is not a modern phenomenon. It’s been going on since at least 2007 when I started interacting on these boards. Some fans have torn out the scar tissue from 67, 75, 78, 86 & 03. Some haven’t, and continue to fear and assume the worst.
And then you have the fans from 2004-2023 who have never seen failure, and don’t know how to deal with life on the fringes.
No red sox column since Wednesday genius why don’t you talk about brassiere’s and klubers suckitude .189 Yoshida .143 Casas .100 chang only a lowlife would brag about winning because the other teams sp got injured early in the game at least Cora is letting starters go longer no more of that 3rd time idiotic crap
There it is, the negativity. Ahhh.
So you want to talk about Yoshia and Casas and Chang. BUT nobody else.
How about you talk about these topics
-Red Sox starters are looking great right now or at least 5 out of 6.
-The bullpen is pitching great except for in blowouts.
-The RF and Catcher are playing great (2 players acquired for a year of Mookie Betts)
To respond to your 3:
-Yoshida is still adjusting, he’s been playing baseball in America for 3 weeks for god sakes.
-Casas sucks, no doubt, said it last year. Another wasted draft pick by DD.
-Chang is excellent with his glove, he’s suppose to be the Utility IF, not the Starting SS, but until they get a decent replacement, he should be the everyday SS for his glove alone. Ever hear of Mark Belanger?
I liked the comment so much, I made a swith. Good idea.
don’t agree with the casas take at all. He’s still adjusting same with Yoshida. They’ve both basically played the same amount of baseball at the MLB level.
RSmith
I think that you do hasty conclusions about Casas.
If you paid attention, that Triston has reverse splits in this season :
vs lefties 22 AP; 4Hits; 2 Double; HR; 4 Walks; .222 AVG; .364 OBP; .864 OPS
vs righties 45 AP; 4Hits; Double; HR; 6 Walks; 105 AVG; 222 OBP; .433 OPS
2022
vs lefties 25 AP; 4Hits; 6 Walks; .211 AVG; 400 OBP; .611 OPS
vs righties 70 AP; 11Hits; Double; 5 HR; 13 Walks; .193 AVG; .343 OBP; .817 OPS
Last 7 games Casas has 29 AP – 8 Walks, .379 OBP
Casas began to amend and less than to chase after bad balls.
He needs to begin to beat righties and then him OPS will go upwards.
Casas has 162 PAs over 2 seasons plus multiple Spring Trainings, and Yoshida has 67 PAs in 1 season.
I dont see how Moving from Japan and speaking a foreign langauge, while speak almost no english, and coming to Boston after living in New England for 3 years is the same adjustment.
They are at very different adjustment points right now.
Also, Im not basing my opinion just on MLB level, Casas has had terrible splits at all levels of development A+, AA, AAA. I pointed this out multiple times last year.
obviously adjusting to a new culture etc is a different challenge but both are still adjusting to big league pitching. 162 PA is still a small sample size. and their adjustment points at least from the baseball side of things aren’t al that different.
He was an above average hitter at every developmental step. I’m not fan of DD but I’d hardly call Casas a bust yet
RSmith
Taking into count the spring training of this season and regular season Triston already 3 HR’s has against lefties.
To this moment he had one HR!!! against lefties for all seasons in minor leagues !!!
I will give Casas 400 AB in Major to do some far going conclusions.
Dalbec got more long leash.
acell10
I agree with you.
“If you paid attention, that Triston has reverse splits in this season”
Your not serious are you? Did you pay attention to the fact he’s only had 18 ABs against LHPs? You think this is enough to get a long-term trend? Im basing my opinion on 4 years of Minor League play, your basing yours on 18 ABs.
Casas is batting .222 against lefties, thats nothing to brag about. His overall line of .136/.268/.288/.556 is pathetic. He’s got a great eye for the walk, but if you think he’s going to survive as a 1B because he can draw walks, your wrong.
RSmith
-Casas sucks, no doubt, said it last year. Another wasted draft pick by DD.
__________________________________________________________________
I specified on statistics 2022-2023 and did no conclusions.
It can draw conclusion after 400 АВ in the Major league.
You did the conclusions on the basis of performances in more minor leagues.
I have an opinion, you do not. Fine.
Most of that is a by-product of going 2-1 in one-run games and 1-0 in two-run games.
“Most of that is a by-product of going 2-1 in one-run games”
What do you mean ‘by-product’, are you saying that its luck? I’ve always felt winning close games is a sign of a good team.
Last Years Top 8, 1-Run teams and their winning pct in those games:
Padres .681
Stros .636
WSox .627
Mariners .607
Cards .604
Jays .600
Braves .590
Mets .583
7 out of 8 teams with the best 1-run games winning percentage made the playoffs. I dont think thats a coincidence.
On a 7-game analysis, luck is usually the deciding factor. Our Py W/L over the 7 games is .561. Our overall run differential is only #14, but since out strength of schedule is #4, then our overall ranking is more like #9 out of 30.
This is all ballpark about where we should be. IMHO, we should be looking at this directionally. We have 5 SPs pitching well, one not (Kluber), and 5 RPs pitching well. That should keep our heads above water.
You brought up the 1-run game thing not me. If its luck and only accounts for a change of 1 game. What does it matter.
Interesting take from some of you.
Last time I looked, the Sox are in last place, 6.5 back after just 20. Now really sure what you all are excited about. Most predicted a .500 team, and that’s what we have. I predicted that they will finish less than .500, and I am sticking to that.
‘Most predicted a .500 team, and that’s what we have.’
Complete lie. You could do research where everyone is saying “dead last” “worst team in the majors” “terrible” suck”. those are not adjectives used to describe an average team.
Here we go, walking back the crappy things said all winter, so people can claim they were right.
DBH – I’m not sure who you’re seeing as excited, but I agree right now they don’t seem like a playoff contender.
Personally I’m excited about Dugie possibly having a breakout year, Sale returning to pre-TJS form, Duran looking like the player we all hoped for, Houck and Whitlock showing how good they can be as starters, and a back end of the BP that hasn’t been this strong in years.
But ultimately overall health will have a huge impact on the overall success or failure of the team.
“But ultimately overall health will have a huge impact on the overall success or failure of the team.”
As it is for every team. Sox have had their fair share so far. If they can weather it will be dependent on the players you mentioned continuing to play at a high level.
Houck has really pleasantly surprised me the most. I wanted him in the bullpen because I think he’d be an excellent late inning guy and didn’t think he could make it through a lineup more than twice but his last outing really showed me something. I’ll gladly take the L on that one.
acel – I think a lot of people forgot how good a starter Houck was in 2021. He pitched brilliantly in his one postseason start in Tampa (5 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 61 Pitches) and despite getting jerked around between the rotation and BP throughout that regular season, he put up really good SP numbers including a 1.125 WHIP that was better than his BP WHIP and a 4.87 K/BB ratio that was more than twice as good as his BP ratio. Yes he didn’t have the endurance to go longer than 5 IP because he was still getting bounced around in the BP, that was on Cora not Houck.
Last year the back issues obviously affected his performance. And coming into this year people said he wouldn’t pitch well because he has only two pitches. Well, not true … during the offseason he developed a new cutter that has really helped, especially against LHB.
And oh yeah, those meaningless ST numbers were bad because he was not only working on the new cutter but also refining the splitter.
Most of all, Houck is fearless and tough as nails. He is exactly the type of starting pitcher that could carry the rotation in a year or two.
@Fever, I am referring to the folks above and in other topics talking like the Sox just clinched because they won a few games. At 20 games, the Sox were 10 and 10. 5 and 5 in the last 10, so 5 and 5 in the first 10. Sox are a 500 club, period. There will be times when they win 5 or 6 in a row, and time when they lose 5 or 6 in row. In the end, they’ll still be a .500 club.
I am in agreement with you about some of the young guns, which is why I said Bloom should have avoided signing older players and giving the ‘kids’ time to grow. To your list I will add Casas. As bad as his stats look, he’s got a good eye. I hope the team is patient enough to let him grow like they did Pedroia.
And did anyone else notice that in his last game, Houck was using 5 pitches? A cutter, slider, sinker, splitter, and four seemer.
So yes, I am excited to see the young guns playing. It’s just the pom-pom brigade drives me nuts sometimes when they make every win look like the team just broke out a 50 game win streak lol
DBH – I have 2 or 3 on mute, that’s probably why I don’t see any excitement above.
I can guess who they are though, probably bragging about winning the series against the Twins … right? The same Twins team that lost at home today to the NATS 10-4 after losing yesterday at home to the NATS as well. The NATS, easily one of the worst teams in MLB.
And the Angels? Yankees beat them Thursday 9-3 and took 2 of 3 from them. So NO, the Sox winning the series against the Angels and Twins does NOT have much meaning.
I just posted in detail about Houck. LOL!
Yeah, you should have seen last year … after the Sox had their little win streak against lousy teams like LAA, Oakland and Texas, people like Joe Brady insisted the Sox would finish Top 3 in the division and win a Wild Card spot. He asked me to bet, I declined because I don’t bet on sports, but he disappeared most of the second half anyway so it was like I won the bet without making it. Hahaha!
You nailed it, FPG!
Red Sox 2022 after 26 games:
W/L 10 – 16; Runs 90 – 108; 16 HR; Saves 4
Red Sox 2023 after 26 games:
W/L 13 – 13; Runs 146 ( 3rd place MLB) – 138; 34 HR!!! ( 30 HR without Duvall, Story, Mondesi ), Saves 7/ 7
“Command 2023 very bad in an attack as many ached in a winter offseason”.
I talked constantly that the factor of success of this command will be a starting rotation but not attack, if Sale, Whitlock, Houck will be those pitchers that we saw in matches with Minnesota and Angels this command is doomed to success.
The Red Sox are just in a brutal division it’s very possible they will be an 85 win team and still finish last. Barring substantial injuries by Tampa, Toronto and NY I don’t really see on paper how this currently constructed team can compete with the big 3 in the division. The Red Sox will be hard pressed to beat out Baltimore for 4th in the division. I do think Boston finishes at or above .500 but still at best 4th in the division and misses the post season but there are some bright spots for the future of the team.
Bruin – You could make that argument before this year, but now with the much more balanced schedule? Not so much. Sox have played only 7 games against the Rays and O’s, they haven’t even played the Yanks or Jays yet. Who in the ALC or ALW do you picture as possibly winning a WC? I don’t see anybody that good in those two divisions.
Keep in mind, the Sox could conceivably finish 4th in the division and still grab a WC. Yes it’s a longshot, but longshots do sometimes happen … like last year’s Kentucky Derby!!!