Ben Lively, an important member of the Cleveland Guardians’ starting rotation, will undergo right UCL reconstruction surgery alongside flexor tendon repair, resulting in a recovery period of 12 to 16 months. Scheduled in the coming days, the procedure will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister.
Lively’s injury resurfaced during a start against the Brewers on May 12, where he experienced right forearm inflammation, leading to a trip to the 15-day injured list attributed to a flexor tendon strain. Following an evaluation by Dr. Meister, it was determined that Lively’s injury included medial elbow joint laxity, arising from an insufficient ulnar collateral ligament, adding stress to his flexor muscles and necessitating surgical intervention.
The news is certainly a setback for both the Guardians and Lively. The right-hander has been a reliable starter since signing a one-year deal with the team on December 12, 2023. In 2023, he posted a commendable 3.81 ERA over 151 innings across 29 starts, a significant contribution following the loss of ace Shane Bieber to Tommy John surgery last April. This season, Lively led Cleveland’s starters with a 3.22 ERA over nine starts.
With Lively sidelined, the Guardians’ rotation will now rely on players such as Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Luis Ortiz, Logan Allen, and Slade Cecconi. Cecconi, who will be starting in Detroit, recently stepped in for Lively and displayed potential despite facing some challenges during his outing against the Reds.
On a positive note, ace Shane Bieber is making progress in his rehab and is expected to return to game action soon, starting with appearances in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Additionally, lefty John Means, recovering from Tommy John surgery, could provide further depth to the rotation later in the summer.
This situation presents an opportunity for the Guardians to see emerging talent in their pitching staff as they navigate through this tough period of injuries.