Cubs right-hander Codi Heuer has undergone his second season-ending surgery in as many years, as Heuer underwent a procedure yesterday to address an elbow fracture suffered earlier this week during a Triple-A rehab start. Left-hander Brandon Hughes will also go under the knife for a distal femoral osteotomy on his left knee that will keep him out of action until at least Spring Training. (Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times was among those who reported the news.)
It’s another brutal setback for Heuer, who didn’t pitch at all in 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. His outing on Tuesday was the 15th appearance of his rehab assignment, and it seemed like he was approaching a return to the Cubs bullpen before suffering his latest injury. While Lee notes that while Heuer’s UCL was at least unharmed by the fracture, there’s “a less definite timeline” for this injury than there is for a Tommy John procedure, since “recover requires immobilization, which adds a wrinkle in the rehab process.”
The 26-year-old Heuer was a sixth-round pick for the White Sox in the 2018 draft, and he went to the other end of the Windy City at the 2021 trade deadline when the Sox sent Heuer and Nick Madrigal to the Cubs in exchange for Craig Kimbrel. Heuer had made his MLB debut in posting a 1.52 ERA over 23 2/3 relief innings for the White Sox in 2020, and while he ran into some more struggles in his first full MLB season, his 2021 numbers were at least respectable — a 4.28 ERA over 67 1/3 total innings with the Sox and Cubs, albeit with a low 19.9% strikeout rate.
Unfortunately for Heuer, it’ll be an even longer wait before he gets an opportunity to bounce back from that 2021 performance. He did have a 7.82 ERA over his 12 2/3 Triple-A innings this season, though given how Heuer’s focus was on simply rebuilding arm strength and ramping up for regular pitching work, the lack of results wasn’t necessarily a red flag (though a big 17.5% walk rate is naturally cause for concern).
Hughes posted a 3.12 ERA over 57 2/3 innings in his 2022 rookie season, but also had a sophomore slump, with a 7.24 ERA over 13 2/3 innings this season. It appears as though his knee issue was a cause, as Lee writes that a past knee surgery from 2015 was leading to some renewed pain for Hughes, and the decision was finally made that another surgery was required.
As Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer told Lee and other reporters, Hughes has “never really gotten consistently to where he was last year with mechanics because of his knee. And he’s fought so hard to get out there. He’s such a competitor. But it finally got to a point where it’s like, we’re just going to keep [taking] one step forward, one step back over and over.”
It should take roughly six months for Hughes to recover and then at least a couple more months of rehab time, Lee writes, so Hughes could miss most or all of Spring Training 2024. It seems very probable that Hughes will start the 2024 season on the injured list in order to give him time to both finish off his recovery, or simply to take part in extended Spring Training in April to make up for lost time.
I feel bad for Heuer. He was OK for the Sox, then was part of the most idiotic trade in Sox history. The Sox had Hendriks, so what did they need another closer for? Kimbrel was terrible with the Sox, who traded their 2b man and a promising pitcher for. They thankfully got rid of Kimbrel by trading him to the Dodgers for A.J. Pollock. Pollock started out pretty good for the Sox, then got caught in the demoralizing of the team by LaRussa. He left through free agency and signed with Seattle. So the Sox traded away their 2b man, which they haven’t replaced in 3 years now, and got absolutely nothing in return. Way to run a team, Hahn.
No cryin in baseball avenger. LOL, well maybe there is because I haven’t got over giving the Chisox Cease.
The second basemen to which you refer is a below average player who you guys can gladly have back. I doubt he is on the Cubs roster next year.
Fractured elbow from throwing a baseball. Sadly it sounds like his career is over.
Yes….career ending….when he walked off the mound the other night it was sadly evident that it was over.
I feel bad for both those boys. Both have great potential and to work so hard to get to the show, initially do well and then have to take steps back, especially Heuer.
Well they finally fixed Hughes knee before he trashed his arm anyway, Should of been done months ago. The Heuer news is putting into question his future. If the brace held up and his ligament held up but he fractured his elbow then how long is that going to last? I wish him well but it doesn’t look good to be sure.
Great… Now Dr Mike is chiming in to provide his expert opinion. He thinks he knows what he’s talking about be cause he residency at Cracker Barrel
Told you. Brought my lunch. Yet another child left behind?
No Doc, tell us more about your experience with sports injuries and treating them.
I recall you expertly explaining the prognosis that Hendricks was “washed up”…
You said Amaya was done as well…
So tell us more Dic
Come on, break it up. I need help trolling Cardinals fans on the Mo article.
Spot, I think Uncle is actually correct on this one. Without getting the knee fixed it is highly likely that it could have turned into a compensation in the delivery at some point.
Certainly not on the same talent level but I painfully (pun intended) watched Mark Prior tumble over Mark Lemke onto his shoulder which led to a slight change that led to an achilles thing that led to changing his towel throwing warm up which quickly turned into a career lost.
Uncle, you do tend to be a little overzealous with your knowledge at times, but I think your hunch (or gulp, expertise) is a warranted one here.
Thanks but it really isn’t far fetched to think a guy who was struggling with a bum knee could hurt his arm when they are already saying Boxberger strained his arm from a slightly pulled groin. But this doesn’t sound like just any knee surgery. It sounds like a much bigger problem and the word degenerative was even tossed in. Stay tuned.
Actually Mike, I am not saying that Hughes doesn’t need surgery, Doc Mike thinks he’s has a better idea on treating injuries without being in the examination room or having any discussions with the medical staff. With zero medical training..
Sorry, I’m backing the Cubs medical staff, and not Doc Mike. His opinion on the course of treatment, or questioning the reason for injury to another player is meaningless.
Mike127, What expertise are your saying Dic Mike has?
Dic Wood is now the reigning Cubs Physician. I’ll defer. I just read the article but then I can read.
I havent offered a medical opinion… You’re a retired truck driver from Iowa, that knows nothing about baseball or orthopedics. Why are you Dic Mike
Cal Eldred had a very similar path and results as Hauer. He broke his arm a 2nd time just pitching, no trauma. He ended up having screws and metal , just to hold it together.
How would Hughes not be ready for spring training if it’s 6-8 months?
Not sure how this is a question. This isn’t playstation. Sometimes players take longer