Right-hander Brandon Bielak recently underwent season-ending surgery, reports MLBTR’s Steve Adams. He’s expected to be ready for 2026 Spring Training. Bielak was released from a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks on Saturday after going on the full-season injured list last month.
The injury essentially ended Bielak’s stint with Arizona before it got off the ground. The 29-year-old signed a minor league contract with the Snakes in February. He worked 5 2/3 frames of two-run ball during Spring Training before being reassigned to the minors. Bielak started twice for Triple-A Reno. He allowed three runs across 9 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and walks apiece. Both appearances came within the first week of April. Bielak landed on the injured list on April 9 and was ruled out for the season within three days.
There’s a decent chance Bielak will spend the rest of the year as a free agent. He’ll be limited to minor league offers next winter but would again project as rotation or long relief depth if his recovery goes as expected. A former 11th-round draftee by the Astros, Bielak has spent most of his minor league career as a starting pitcher. He made 13 big league starts with Houston a couple seasons ago, though his 16 MLB appearances last year all came in relief.
Bielak divided last season between Houston and the A’s. He turned in a 5.16 ERA over 29 2/3 big league frames and a 6.08 mark across 16 Triple-A appearances. He now owns a 4.63 ERA over 204 major league innings. Bielak has a 4.37 mark over six career Triple-A seasons — a decent number for a depth starter who has spent all that time in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
Genuinely curious–how does MLB handle these situations–how is the surgery and after care set up, who pays for it, is there insurance, is the player paid at all if he’s been released for health issues?
Going to be a long wait for a reply. We might be the only two that have read this. I eagerly await a response from someone that is more knowledgeable than I.
I read this too!
I’d also be curious to know. I find it despicable when teams non tender TJ pitchers (or anyone facing a long lay off). This also stinks, releasing injured players.
I also believe the team will pay for it if it occurred while the player was playing for them.
Teams are obligated to take care of the athlete—surgery/post op care until the end of the contract. The athletes also get paid their salary. The condition is that the athlete needs to do their post op care within the organization. As this was a minor league deal, the organization and athlete probably struck a deal so he could rehab/train closer to home or wherever he wanted. It also allows him to sign some 2-year prove it type deal with another organization.