FREE ARTICLE
NEW YORK—Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday. The surgery was done in Dallas by Dr. Keith Meister, who also performed procedures on pitchers John Means and Tyler Wells.
Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said the season-ending surgery went well. He lauded Bradish’s toughness.
“This guy is really a tough hombre,” Elias said. “We were marveling how well he was pitching with it. He gave us everything he had. We’re going to miss him. We’re going to take really good care of him and get him back to full strength and I can’t wait for that and have this behind him. It’s a tough blow, but it’s going to be temporary.”
Bradish left Friday’s game against Philadelphia after five innings. He was 2-0 with a 2.75 earned-run average in eight starts, including one with seven hitless innings at Chicago on May 26th and another when he allowed one hit in six innings at Tampa Bay on June 8th.
The Orioles delayed the start of the 27-year-old’s season until May 2nd because of a sprain of the right ulnar collateral ligament.
“He had damage to his UCL that time. We got it treated with a [platelet-rich plasma shot] and rest and rehab,” Elias said. “He did great for a while and he was pitching amazingly. It was really impressive. It’s not an easy thing to do. Definitely not a shortcoming of his. It just came to an end.
“This guy, he would have kept pitching until his arm fell off if people let him. He did a hell of a job. He helped us win games. We’re going to pick up the slack for him, and we’re going to get him back.”
Elias said that Tommy John surgery was not contemplated when Bradish was initially hurt in January.
“At no time in that time frame was anyone seriously considering it based on the way he responded and the particulars in the case and Kyle,” Elias said.
Elias also said that 34-year-old left-hander Danny Coulombe had bone chips in his left elbow removed on Tuesday in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
“We’re very hopeful that we’ll get him back in the regular season,” Elias said.
Coulombe is 1-0 with a 2.49 ERA and a save in 29 games.
Elias addressed other injuries, as well.
He said that starting pitcher Dean Kremer, who’s on the 15-day injured list with a right triceps strain, will throw his second rehab game on Saturday for Triple-A Norfolk at Lehigh Valley. He’s expected to throw five innings and 75 pitches.
He said that infielder Jordan Westburg, who has left hip discomfort after a collision with New York’s Juan Soto on Tuesday night, was day-to-day and thought he could avoid the injured list.
He also said top prospect Jackson Holliday, who’s on the minor league injured list with right elbow inflammation, is improving. “Things are moving in the right direction,” he said. “He’s feeling better. I maintain my early hope and optimism that this is kind of a minor injury that’s measured in weeks.’