Houston Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair a flexor tendon and remove a bone spur in his throwing arm, the organization announced Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
McCullers suffered the injury, which he previously described as a “minor forearm strain,” in February.
He hasn’t pitched this season and last appeared in Game 3 of the World Series in November, where he allowed seven runs in 4 1/3 innings.
McCullers had previously undergone surgery from Tommy John in 2018 and missed the entire 2019 season to recover.
backstory
Wednesday’s news put a devastating end to McCullers’ attempt to come back from a forearm strain. He suffered his first injury during a bullpen session on February 14 — the day before pitchers and catchers reported for spring practice. McCullers had taken to holding bullpen sessions at Minute Maid Park. He suffered a setback after a 35-pitch bullpen session on May 16, during which he hit a speed of 93 mph. The Astros sent McCullers for an MRI late last week, and general manager Dana Brown never expressed much optimism about the prognosis.
McCullers signed a five-year, $85 million contract extension ahead of the 2021 season, which remains the longest and most lucrative contract extension granted to a starting pitcher during Jim Crane’s tenure. McCullers has made 36 regular-season starts and five postseason appearances since signing the contract. He has pitched just 47 2/3 innings in the regular season since 2021 while surviving a series of injuries. McCullers also missed most of the 2021 postseason after sustaining a flexor-pronator muscle strain.