According to Alex Speier of The Boston Globe, Red Sox pitching prospect Angel Bastardo is likely to undergo Tommy John surgery due to damage to the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing elbow. Bastardo, who recently turned 22, has been sidelined since June 6 after experiencing significant pain during a game at Hadlock Field. Initially diagnosed with a UCL sprain, further evaluations revealed a more serious injury.
In his ten starts for Double-A Portland this season, Bastardo posted a 5.36 ERA and a 4.32 FIP, with 53 strikeouts and 21 walks over 45 1/3 innings. Opponents batted .225 against him, and his strikeout rate of 26.6% ranked 16th among Eastern League pitchers with at least 40 innings pitched.
Signed from Venezuela in 2018 for $35,000, Bastardo is currently ranked as the 26th prospect in Boston’s system by Baseball America and is eighth among pitchers. Speier highlights his impressive fastball reaching speeds of 97-98 mph this season, along with a effective changeup, curveball, and slider.
If Bastardo opts for Tommy John surgery, he faces a lengthy rehabilitation period, potentially ruling him out for the remainder of 2024 and possibly all of 2025. An alternative procedure involving internal UCL bracing offers a quicker recovery but would still require significant time off the field.
Unlike Perales, who is scheduled to meet with Dr. Jeffrey Dugas in Birmingham, Alabama next week, Bastardo is not currently on the Red Sox’s 40-man roster. However, he could become a minor-league free agent after the 2025 season, adding complexity to the timing of his decision and recovery process.