Pirates right-hander Dauri Moreta underwent surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament, reports Alex Stumpf of MLB.com, and will be out of action for the next 14 to 16 months. The righty is already on the Pirates’ 60-day injured list.
This news confirms what was already expected. Two weeks ago, it was reported that Moreta was dealing with a ligament injury in his right elbow. Though he and the club were going to gather more information, it was acknowledged that he was going to miss “an extended period of time.” When the Bucs signed Michael A. Taylor last week, they moved Moreta to the 60-day injured list as the corresponding move.
It seems that the further information gathering did nothing to give Moreta any hope of avoiding surgery. Based on the timeline from Stumpf, it seems like Moreta had full Tommy John surgery. That’s just speculation as the club has not yet made an official announcement, but the internal brace surgery usually comes with a lesser timeline of around a year.
Moreta, 28 next month, seemed to have a breakout year with the Pirates in 2023. He pitched 58 innings out of the bullpen, his largest workload in a major league season, and finished the year with a 3.72 earned run average. His 10% walk rate was a tad high, but he paired that with an excellent 31.8% strikeout rate.
He would have been looking to build on that here in 2024 but it will instead go down as a lost season. He’ll be aiming for a return in the middle of 2025, by which point he’ll be 29 years old. In the meantime, he’ll spend this season on the injured list, collecting major league pay and service time. For the Bucs, this means they will be without one of their more interesting young arms for the next year-plus.
His poor decisions in the clubhouse have finally come back to haunt him as Clint Hurdle suggested they would.
Moreta never played for Clint Hurdle
It’s not at all clear what you’re referring to.
His triflin’ ways have finally caught up to him just like Clint Barmes always said they would.
Feel for the young man. Come back healthy as ever.
When they said it was an elbow issue and that he would miss a significant amount of time, it was pretty much all but confirmed as TJ surgery. Very unfortunate as he was a major piece of the bullpen in 2023. Hope he comesback healthy next year.
And the Bucs knowing this should of made a play with Lorenzen
Maybe they did and Lorenzen said no. Lorenzen was looking for a multi year deal and wanted to start. The Bucs have Jones and Skenes coming this season sooner than later. Burrows and Brubaker coming back and Chandler and Solometo coming next season. Moreta is a relief pitcher and adding Lorenzen would not have helped to replace Moreta
Even the A’s which signed Alex Wood for $8.5MM could have made a play. Lorenzen took a lesser offer to sign with the Rangers.
Rangers are the reigning champs. If I am Lorenzen, I would sign with the Rangers for less than I would with the Bucs or A’s.
Moreta is a reliever who was called upon when they needed a K. Lorenzen doesn’t even want to be reliever. Not a replacement. If Perez was out for season then Lorenzen would be a good replacement. He could start until July then gets replaced and eats innings in the pen.
Less then 250 pitches thrown last year and a couple innings of spring training. Quite telling of just how much stress is put on a pitchers ligaments these days
Well Little Jimmy, when you throw just one pitch at 95 mph then you can talk about the effect it had on your ligaments. Until then stay at your keyboard in the basement.
Umm okay. Perhaps you didn’t understand my comment. It’s people like you who are so quick to engage in hostility.
Jimmy – I remember watching videos years ago of how a pitcher’s elbow is torqued n delivery. What do you think is different today? Especially this spring where we’ve seen an unprecedented number of elbow injuries.
BTW – not sure what dunkeroos’ problem is. That was a totally unsolicited a-hole response from him.
I have no idea and I’m in no way qualified to say, but maybe has something to do with developing a variety of pitches at a young age? I mean there was a time kids just threw fastballs and now you have preteens throwing curves, four seamers, sliders etc. I’m sure it takes a toll. Thanks for the reply and food for thought though.
Big loss for the Pirates and their bullpen through this and others underperforming in Spring Training turns it from a strength to just average.
Again, MLB is avoiding calling it Tommy John surgery. I wonder what the strategy is behind it.
He can be replaced. Myself like to Ashcraft get a shot.
Gonzales may open season on dl. Now we need 3 starters. Like the list to choose from. Need strike throwers.
Where did you hear that? Have not heard boo about anything like that from any of the Bucs beat writers.
RIP Big Bank
Tough break for Big Bank. I’m going to miss watching him “K” his way out of the starting pitchers 5th or 6th inning jam.
He’ll probably be replaced by Honeywell in the bullpen. Hopefully Honeywell’s strikeout number tick up this year.