TODAY: Sheldon clarifies that it isn’t yet known if Spiers will need a full Tommy John procedure or an internal brace surgery. If the latter, Spiers’ recovery timeline could be in the 12-13 month range, increasing his chances of a return before the 2026 season is over.
JULY 26: Reds right-hander Carson Spiers will undergo a Tommy John surgery that will end his 2025 season and cost him all or virtually all of the 2026 season, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reports. Spiers hasn’t pitched since April due to a shoulder impingement, and a minor league rehab assignment that began in early July was cut short when Spiers experienced some biceps soreness. However, an MRI revealed the much worse news of UCL damage, and the righty now faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
Spiers has at least been amassing Major League service time while on the Reds’ IL, and he’ll continue to do so during his time on the 60-day injured list in 2026. Given the usual 13-15 month recovery timeline for Tommy John patients, the timing of the surgery makes it unlikely that he’ll be back on a big league mound until the 2027 season, unless Spiers can perhaps get back in time for a peace-of-mind outing or two at the very end of the 2026 campaign.
Now in his third MLB season, Spiers was an undrafted free agent from the 2020 class of players who were somewhat left in limbo when the pandemic reduced the 2020 draft to just five rounds. He made it to the Show for a few appearances for Cincinnati in September 2023, and then played a larger role for the Reds last year, tossing 90 2/3 innings while starting 10 of 22 games. His abbreviated 2025 campaign consisted of two starts in three appearance, and 13 1/3 innings.
When not starting, Spiers has also operated as a long reliever, bulk pitcher, and a piggyback type of pitcher, so his ability to eat innings was helpful even if the results were shaky. Spiers has a 5.69 ERA over his 117 career frames in the majors, as well as a 19.3% strikeout rate and 7.7% walk rate. His career Triple-A numbers are a little better, and inflated by the 5.94 ERA he posted in 16 2/3 frames with Triple-A Louisville this year during his rehab assignment, when Spiers was naturally focused on getting comfortable and healthy rather than pure performance.
No surprise at all.
Turning into a Tejay Antone without the electric stuff.
Any news on Antone ? Did he retire ?
He’s under contract and rehabbing. Not retired.
hey Reds……when the Reds make the playoffs, don’t you think Burns will be a heck of a reliever with Martinez? could be a power closer in 2026 .Maybe….
Burns could be valuable in the playoffs. If you need a K to get out of a jam there’s no one better on our roster. Martinez more of a long reliever.
That’s a sad situation for him, hope he comes back better than ever!!
I know it happens but Derick Johnson coached players happen a lot more
Do you have data to back up that claim?
Exactly why keeping Chase Petty is needed. Every f’in depth pitcher we have is TJ’d right now
Reds need a new medical staff. Team doctor Dr.K is worthless.
Bad news for Carson and the team. Work through it young man. You’ll be back.
I dont see mlb or the union doing anything about this plague. One would think the players would want change. But no, there is too much money in sports and players are disposable. A cynic would say they cash out in exchange for the injuries. In football its dementia brought on by brain injury. In basketball its crippling knee injuries. In baseball its arm and shoulder. I guess sports writers get carpel tunnel from repetitive motion. Fans get finger cramps from posting and broken hearts and ulcers from watching. And fans get to pay for the privilege.
@ In nurse follars,
Very well expressed and written.
Players used to end their careers over this. It’s common now and saves careers. They used to get hurt and you would never hear about them again.
Terrible timing undergoing TJ surgery this time of year which costs a pitcher the present season as well as next. Tough pill to swallow.
Carson said earlier this year he was working on increasing his velocity. Now his shoulder and elbow are shot.
The love of the radar guns, spin rates, and pitch counts are ruining a lot of young pitchers arms.
@Mark,
Carson shouldn’t be accruing major league service time on the 60-day IL next year with the Reds. That’s a waste of a 40 man roster spot all winter. He should be DFA’d/nontendered at the end of the season. If he wants to rehab while employed by the Reds he can sign a multi-year minor league deal the day after.