Waldichuk (elbow) will throw a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday.
Waldichuk is expected to mix in fastballs and changeups during his upcoming mound session. He's been throwing bullpens since early March as the most recent step in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and it's still unclear when he might be cleared to face live hitters.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Placed on 60-day IL
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The Athletics placed Waldichuk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2024, Waldichuk isn't expected to rejoin the Athletics until closer to midseason. The 27-year-old southpaw began throwing bullpen sessions in early March, but it will take a while for him to build to a starter's workload, if that's the role the A's have planned for him.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Cleared for bullpen progression
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The Athletics announced Tuesday that Waldichuk (elbow) has been cleared to begin a bullpen progression, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
A little under 10 months removed from the Tommy John surgery and internal brace procedure he underwent May 15, 2024, Waldichuk is now ready to resume mound work. Per Gallegos, the Athletics estimated that Waldichuk would require around 13 months of recovery time from surgery, so he could be ready to contribute for the big club at some point in late June or July. Presumably, the Athletics' initial plan is to have Waldichuk get stretched out as a starter during his rehab program, though he could be deployed as a reliever if the team is satisfied with its rotation options by the time he's ready to return from the injured list.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Waldichuk underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk was initially diagnosed with a UCL tear last October. He opted for a minor procedure on his elbow last fall in hopes of avoiding the surgery he eventually had Wednesday. The left-hander figures to be sidelined until around midseason of 2025.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Slated for elbow surgery
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Waldichuk will undergo left elbow surgery Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk elected to have a more conservative procedure after being diagnosed with a UCL sprain and flexor strain last October, but he recently had a setback and will require another operation. The Athletics won't provide more details until Waldichuk's surgery is completed Wednesday, but the upcoming procedure promises to be more invasive and will likely prevent him from pitching this season.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Visit with Dr. ElAttrache scheduled
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Waldichuk (elbow) will visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk recently had a setback while throwing a live batting practice session. He was diagnosed last October with a UCL sprain and flexor strain but chose a more conservative Tenex procedure to remove scar tissue and help alleviate pain. More will be known after Monday's exam, but his upcoming meeting with Dr. ElAttrache would seem to suggest that Waldichuk's treatment plan hasn't panned out as anticipated.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Setback after live BP
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Waldichuk (elbow) experienced a setback after throwing a 25-pitch live batting practice April 29 and is shut down for the time being, MLB.com reports.
The left-hander has not thrown since that session and is slated to be reevaluated in the coming days. It's naturally a tough break for Waldichuk, who opened the season on the 60-day IL but had been making uninterrupted progress prior to this recent stumble. Given Waldichuk will almost certainly require a full-length rehab assignment whenever he is cleared for game action, he may be hard-pressed to be ready for activation before mid-June.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Tosses live BP
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Waldichuk (elbow) threw 25 pitches against live hitters Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk continues to advance in his rehab, and he's now scheduled to throw a sim game before potentially being sent out on a rehab assignment, per Gallegos. The southpaw figures to get a day or two off before his scheduled sim game.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Improves velocity in latest bullpen
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Waldichuk (elbow) threw a successful 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports. "Waldichuk looked really good and got his velocity up from his last bullpen," said A's manager Mark Kotsay. "He's trending in the right direction."
Waldichuk has now thrown three bullpen sessions over the last eight days alone, certainly an encouraging sign with respect to his surgically repaired elbow's strength. The left-hander is slated to throw additional bullpen sessions during the Athletics' road trip before facing hitters in a simulated game at some point next week, after which he'll head out on a rehab assignment, per Kotsay.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Nearing rehab assignment
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Waldichuk (elbow) could begin a rehab assignment sometime next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The lefty has joined the Athletics on their road trip and will throw four bullpen sessions before being sent out on a rehab assignment. Waldichuk was diagnosed last October with a UCL sprain and flexor strain, but he chose a more conservative Tenex procedure to remove scar tissue and help alleviate pain. He will be built up as a starter, so Waldichuk will likely need most of his 30-day rehab allotment before being an option for the Oakland rotation. The southpaw is on the 60-day injured list and won't be eligible for activation until late May.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Another good bullpen Friday
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Waldichuk (elbow) threw between 20 and 25 pitches in a bullpen session Friday, the Associated Press reports.
It's the second bullpen session for Waldichuk this week, as the left-hander continues a deliberate throwing program. Waldichuk could be deemed ready to face live hitters after Friday's session, although how he recovers over the weekend from the activity will likely be the determining factor in whether he progresses to the next step.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Encouraging bullpen Monday
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Waldichuk (elbow) threw a bullpen session Monday that went off without any setbacks, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.
Manager Mark Kotsay remarked that "so far everything is going in the right direction for Kenny," adding the left-hander continues to feel good during his ramp-up process. While Waldichuk continues without a timetable for return, he may only need another bullpen session or two before progressing to facing live hitters.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Bullpen session on tap
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Waldichuk (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Wednesday will be Waldichuk's first time throwing off a mound since undergoing surgery in October to address a sprained UCL and damaged flexor tendon in his left elbow. He's slated to throw 25 pitches during his first bullpen session and will certainly require more sessions in order to build up to a typical starter's workload.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Progress encouraging
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) is progressing "great" according to manager Mark Kotsay, but the left-hander remains without a timetable to begin throwing off a mound, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.
The 26-year-old southpaw appears to be nearing the back end of his recovery from October surgery for a UCL sprain and flexor tendon damage, but this report indicates he's not quite there yet. A mid-February report had indicated there was a possibility Waldichuk would be ready to throw bullpen sessions by the end of spring training, and while that hasn't come to pass, it appears Kotsay is encouraged by the pace of Waldichuk's progress and the absence of setbacks.
Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Opens season on 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Athletics placed Waldichuk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Though Waldichuk has been cleared to play catch at the outset of spring training, he'll need at least two months to complete his throwing progression and get stretched out over a multi-start rehab assignment before he's ready to make his 2024 debut for Oakland. The southpaw was shut down for most of the offseason after he underwent surgery in October to address a UCL sprain as well as flexor tendon damage in his throwing arm.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Ready to throw
Rotowire
Waldichuk (elbow) was cleared to play catch Wednesday and could be throwing bullpen sessions by the end of spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The left-hander is not expected to be ready for the start of the season, but ramping up his throwing program during spring training would be encouraging after he underwent surgery to repair UCL damage in his left elbow in October. Assuming there are no further complications, Waldichuk could theoretically be ready for game action by late April or early May.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Likely to miss start of season
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Waldichuk (elbow) likely won't be ready for the start of the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Waldichuk underwent surgery in October to repair the damage done to his left UCL and flexor during his final start of 2023. Athletics general manager David Forst didn't offer a timeline for Waldichuk's return during Friday's call with reporters, so it remains unclear when the 26-year-old southpaw will be able to return to Oakland's rotation. Last year, Waldichuk put up a 5.36 ERA and 1.56 WHIP in 141 innings -- his highest workload in a season since he was drafted in 2019.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Diagnosed with UCL, flexor damage
Rotowire
Waldichuk underwent a Tenex procedure on Oct. 17 and received a PRP injection on Oct. 24 after being diagnosed with a left UCL sprain and flexor strain.
Waldichuk felt discomfort in his pitching elbow following his final start of the season back on Sept. 29 and an MRI and doctor visit revealed the bad news. The left-hander has opted for a conservative treatment rather than Tommy John surgery, with the minimally invasive Tenex procedure designed to remove scar tissue, and the PRP injection aimed to promote healing. Waldichuk is currently limited to physical therapy, and his timeline for a throwing program is up in the air.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Yields five runs in loss
Rotowire
Waldichuk (4-9) allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks over five innings Friday, striking out three and taking a loss against the Angels.
Waldichuk tossed three scoreless frames before the Angels plated three runs in the fourth inning. It was just the second time in his last 10 outings he'd given up more than two earned runs. During that stretch, Waldichuk produced a 3.42 ERA and a 43:17 K:BB. He'll end the 2023 season with a 5.36 ERA and 132 punchouts over 141 frames.
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