What the Pirates feared most with Johan Oviedo has come true, as the right-handed starting pitcher will have Tommy John surgery in the coming days, sources confirmed to the Post-Gazette on Saturday.
The Post-Gazette reported on Nov. 13 that Oviedo was dealing with a serious elbow injury and that UCL reconstruction surgery was one of the possible outcomes. The injury is expected to sideline Oviedo for 12-14 months.
Though somewhat expected, it’s still a huge blow to the Pirates and their starting rotation given the quality work Oviedo delivered in 2023 — and the potential he showed.
While making all 32 starts, the 25-year-old native of Havana, Cuba, worked 177⅔ innings. He had a 4.31 ERA and 4.49 FIP to go along with 83 walks and 158 strikeouts, twirling both a complete-game shutout and an immaculate inning.
Oviedo flashed an impressive slider and maturity that belied his years, not backing down from Ronald Acuna Jr. and displaying a fiery competitiveness that endeared him to fans.
Along with Mitch Keller, Oviedo was one of (only) two anchors for the Pirates rotation and was expected to play a key role for them this upcoming season.
The injury will certainly increase the need for the Pirates to address their starting staff, either through free agency, trades or — most likely — both.
Oviedo logged 15 starts this past season in which he allowed one or no runs, tied for second-most in MLB. Furthermore, he posted the eighth-lowest batting average against in the National League (.238).
When Oviedo had proper command, the quality of his stuff was unmistakable and he discovered success working fast and aggressively.
A major area of concern, now that this has gone final, includes the year-over-year jump in innings Oviedo logged. Twenty is often seen as standard. Yet Oviedo’s total increased by 60⅓ over 2022, due in part to the Pirates having just two starting pitchers down the stretch.
Oviedo joins JT Brubaker and Mike Burrows as Pittsburgh starting rotation members having undergone Tommy John surgery. Angel Perdomo also had the procedure but was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves.
Francys Romero of MLB.com was first to report the news.
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: November 25, 2023, 6:09 p.m.
Updated: November 25, 2023, 11:53 p.m.
