Red Sox pitching prospect Angel Bastardo is likely to require Tommy John surgery, as reported by Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. Similar to fellow right-hander Luis Perales, Bastardo has sustained damage to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing elbow. Although surgery seems imminent, the 22-year-old will consult with a doctor before making a final decision.
Bastardo, who turned 22 on Tuesday, has been on the injured list for Double-A Portland since June 6. The injury occurred during a start at Hadlock Field, where he collapsed in pain in the fourth inning after delivering a pitch. Initially diagnosed with a sprained UCL, further imaging revealed more severe damage.
No expert but didnt look good tonight for @PortlandSeaDogs Angel Bastardo…my thinking and his reaction leads me to think bad arm injury… pic.twitter.com/2OMCmp8HpR
— Joe Bailey (@joebaileysports) June 6, 2024
In his 10 starts for Portland this season, Bastardo has recorded a 5.36 ERA and a 4.32 FIP, striking out 53 batters and walking 21 over 45 1/3 innings. Opponents have batted .225 against him. His strikeout rate of 26.6 percent ranks 16th among Eastern League pitchers who have thrown at least 40 innings, according to FanGraphs.
Bastardo, signed from Venezuela for $35,000 in July 2018, is currently ranked as the No. 26 prospect in Boston’s farm system by Baseball America, and eighth among the organization’s pitchers. He has shown promise with a fastball reaching 97-98 mph, along with an effective changeup, curveball, and slider.
If Bastardo undergoes Tommy John surgery, he faces a long rehabilitation process, sidelining him for the rest of 2024 and most, if not all, of 2025. Alternatively, an internal bracing procedure might offer a quicker recovery but still entails a significant absence.
Unlike Perales, who is scheduled to consult Dr. Jeffrey Dugas in Birmingham, Alabama, next week, Bastardo is not on the Red Sox’s 40-man roster. He could, however, become a minor-league free agent at the end of the 2025 season, making the timing of this injury particularly challenging.
